Author: Sagacity

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A Defense of the Imperial System of Measurement in Law

I read this article in the Utah Bar Journal. It struck me as accurate. Enough so that I wanted to share it with others! I thought the metric system in the United Kingdom was not intuitive, especially where most things had metric and imperial side by side.

In 1975, the United States enacted the Metric Conversion Act, amended by the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988, attempting to compel American citizenry to adopt the modern metric system as their official system of measurement (i.e., the International System of Units). The United States later directed all U.S. agencies to “take all appropriate measures within their authority” to convert to the metric system. Exec. Order No. 12770, 56 FR 35801, at 393 (July 29, 1991). Less than fifty years earlier, the consensus view of the U.S. Congress had been that “the metric system is inferior to the English.” Congressional Hearing Relative to the Compulsory Introduction of the Metric System, on H.R. 10, Cong. 237 (1926) (statement of Samuel S. Dale to the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures).

Questions about whether weights and measures should be expressed in the imperial system or the metric system in evidence, statutes, and case law have never been fully resolved. In many states, legislation arbitrarily reverts from the imperial system to metric system within subsections of the same statute. See, e.g., Utah Code Ann. § 58-37c-19 (outlawing distribution and possession of methamphetamines in ounces); id. § 58-37c-20.5 (outlawing purchase of pseudoephedrine in grams); see also, e.g., 18 V.S.A. § 4231(a)(3), (outlawing possession of cocaine measured in ounces); 18 V.S.A. § 4231(a)(2) (outlawing possession of cocaine measured in grams). The Supreme Court also appears to have vacillated about how best to express weights and measures. See, e.g., Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 U.S. 582 (2016) (expressing distance in miles using the imperial system); Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007) (converting evidence presented in the imperial system to metric system units). And although the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) technically requires applicants to use the metric system, it does not enforce this requirement.

Academics have long advocated for adoption of the metric system as a way of resolving this conflict, while blue-collar American works have resisted the same. Emerging evidence further discussed below appears supportive of the blue-collar workers’ reluctance.

Historical Controversy

Pressure from continental Europe to adopt the metric system began when the metric system was invented in 1791 during the French Revolution by Pierre-Simon Laplace. Thomas Jefferson rejected European pressure to convert, predicting the metric system would fail. U.S. Dep. Of Comm., A History of the Metric System Controversy in the United States, Nat’l Bur. Stand. Spec. Publ. 345–10. John Quincy Adams was forced to write a 117-page report in 1821 on weights and measures, concluding that the metric system was unnaturally contrived. He said, “[o]f all the nations of European origin, ours is that which least requires any change in the system of their weights and measures.” John Quincy Adams, Report Upon Weights and Measures, p. 93: U.S. Senate (1821). Even Napoleon himself ridiculed the metric system and prohibited its use in the First French Empire, which had created it. “Napoleon didn’t personally admire the metric system that Laplace invented, saying, ‘I can understand the twelfth part of an inch, but not the thousandth part of a metre.’” Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Life (Viking 2014). Following enactment of the Metric Conversion Act in the United States in 1975, the USPTO issued a directive requiring that weights and measures submitted in U.S. Patent applications be presented in the metric system and codified this directive in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure § 608.01. As a result of these laws and regulations intended to “metricate” the American people, nothing changed. Patent attorneys simply ignored § 608.01 and courts in our system of jurisprudence have largely done the same.

Laymen across the country have resisted pressure to adopt the metric system whenever it is applied. The National Cowboy Hall of Fame director sued the National Bureau of Standards in 1981 for spending $2.5 million per year to promote the metric system but had certiorari denied by the U.S. Supreme Court when he lost the case on standing. The Supreme Court Today Rejected an Effort by Two Champions, U. Press Int’l (Nov. 30, 1981), available at https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/30/The-Supreme-Courttoday-rejected-an-effort-by-two/8345375944400/ (commenting on case No. 81-780). The Ford Motor Company refused to switch to the metric system and authorized articles critical of the metric system. Henry Ford, Moving Forward (1931). Francis Dugan, representing the U.S construction industry on the U.S. Metric Board, promised that U.S. construction would “be the very last sector [in the U.S.] to implement conversion to metric measurement – if at all.” U.S. Metric Board, Summary Report (Jul. 1982). To counter the popular resistance to the metrification of the United States, the National Institute for Standards and Technology established the U.S. Metric Program and the U.S. Metric Board for metricating America in the 1970s. The U.S. Metric Board was disbanded by Ronald Reagan in 1982 while the U.S. Metric Program employed one person from 1982 until 2013. In 2013, when the sole employee of the U.S. Metric Program retired and was asked why nothing had been accomplished in thirty years, he blamed the failure of the U.S. to convert to the metric system on incorrigible semi-truck drivers whom he alleged were incapable of understanding overpass heights and prone to ramming their trailers into overpasses across the country. Carrie Swiggum, Meet the Sole Employee of the U.S. Metric Program, Mental Floss

(Mar. 20, 2013), https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/50160/years-ken-butcher-was-sole-employee-us-metric-program.

While singling out truck drivers for ridicule, actual confusion was taking its toll among America’s more educated demographics. NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter was lost in 1999 because NASA scientists misconverted feet to meters. An Air Canada plane crashed in 1983 after its pilots misconverted pounds to kilograms, and a patient died in 1999 when given 0.5 grams of Phenobarbital instead of 0.5 grains.

Modern Chaos

Progressive thinkers continue to demand that the U.S. convert. Hollywood’s Cate Blanchet asked on Jimmy Kimmel live in 2018, “Explain to me how the country that can send a man to the moon is still in gallons and inches?” Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cate Blanchett Thinks Americans Should Use the Metric System, YouTube (Sept. 14, 2018), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1FBYgk3svU.

In spite of the Metric Conversion Act and a directive in 1984 from the Department of Transportation that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) switch to the metric system, the FAA largely failed to transition, insisting pilots could estimate runway lengths and approach speeds better in customary imperial units. The National Transportation Safety Board switched to the metric system in the 1980s, then abruptly switched back – actually printing interstate speed limit signs in the metric system for several months. The FAA’s refusal to switch Federal Aviation Regulations, airworthiness directives, and traffic control practices to the metric system forced the rest of the world to switch their avionics and traffic control systems back to the imperial system and continue calculating altitude in feet, speed in knots, and distance in miles and knots, rather than in kilometers. To the chagrin of its detractors, the imperial system

is adopted by every country in the world for aviation-related functions as a result of U.S. dominance. Additionally, U.S. dominance in aviation resulted in the worldwide adaption of English as the exclusive language of communication between pilots and air traffic control towers.

Is the Imperial System Illogical?

What are we to make of this chaos? Is the United States acting illogically in resisting metrification that reformists insist is inevitable? The imperial system bases its units of measurement on organically evolved common artefacts thought to be common to human observation and intuitively understood, whereas the derived units of metric system are defined as arbitrary fractions of scientific constants. For instance, a foot in the imperial system is about the length of a human foot. The meter, on the other hand, is defined as being 1/299,792,458 of the distance light travels in a second. In the imperial system, a cup is about a cup. The volume of a barrel of oil is, it turns out, about a barrel. An acre is about the amount of land a farmer can till in a day using an ox. A mile is 2,000 paces (i.e., 1,000 left and right steps). An inch is the width of a human thumb. The same intuitive observations underlie the units of teaspoons, tablespoons, bushels, grains, lightyears, and candlepower. Even the Fahrenheit temperature scale of the imperial system was created roughly to define zero degrees as the freezing point of seawater and 100 degrees as body temperature (while Kelvin defines zero as the temperature at which molecular motion ceases for any adiabatic process). We must ask ourselves whether it is easier to understand the power of your car in horsepower or in kilogram force in meters per second.

Scientists say that the metric system has more “coherence” than the imperial system because the derived units of the metric system are directly related to the base units without the need for intermediate conversion factors. In layman’s terms, scientists say the metric units makes more sense because you simply multiply everything by ten. They do not think anyone can remember there are sixteen ounces in a pound or twelve inches in a foot. But if you times nonsense by ten, don’t you simply end up with ten times as much nonsense? Do we not use the imperial system of weights and measures for the same reason we speak an organically derived language? Despite its irregular verb conjugations and spelling, most of the world would consider English to be preferable to contrived languages such as Esperanto. Why are some units of measurement, common to both the imperial system and the metric system, indivisibly correlated to human observation – for instance measuring time using twelve months to a year and thirty days to a month, corresponding to the phases of the moon and seasons?

Evidence Supportive of American Claims

Preliminary results of studies being done for the first time only in 2022 seem to confirm that because the base units in the imperial system are intuitively derived, those who use the imperial system are better able to estimate distance, temperature, speed, volume, and weight than those who use the metric system. This finding holds true for layman and scientists alike. According to one study, even among those with degrees in hard sciences, baccalaurei educated using the imperial system were better able to estimate distance in feet than their counterparts educated using the metric system could in meters – by nearly an entire standard deviation. See Steven Rinehart, Cross-Sectional Study on the Ability of Those Educated Using the Imperial System of Measurement to Estimate Weights and Measures Relative to those Educations Using the Metric System, Auctores (Aug. 10, 2022), https://www.auctoresonline.org/article/cross-sectionalstudy-of-the-ability-of-those-educated-using-the-imperial-systemof-measurement-to-estimate-weights-and-measures-relative-to-those-educated-using-the-metric-system. Study participants were also better able to estimate temperature and speed in the imperial system. With the exception of physicians’ ability to estimate small units of volume, every demographic estimated weights and measures more accurately in the imperial system than the metric system. See id. This is of consequence in the law where juries are tasked with interpreting and understanding evidentiary data presented to them. It is also important where witnesses, such as law enforcement officers, are regularly tasked with estimating distance, speed, and other measurements in the courts of the land.

Metrification Justification

The two justifications perpetually advanced for 250 years for converting to the metric system have always been: (1) that because Europe, as the center of scientific and economic power in the Western world, uses it, the U.S. must also use it or fall behind economically and scientifically; and, (2) that the metric system is easier to understand for the unlearned masses because it defines every unit as consisting of exactly ten of the units smaller than it.

A review of editorial opinions published by major news outlines and scientific journals from 1996 to 2015 shows that of 1,110 cited publications during this period about metrification of the United States, essentially all advocated American transition to the metric system by relying on these two arguments. Published Articles about the Metric System, Metrication, and Related Standards, U.S. Metric Assoc. (Aug. 10, 2022), https://usma.org/publishedarticles-about-the-metric-system-metrication-and-related-standards.

Since the arguments upon which proponents of the metric system rely were originally formulated, however, America has grown to overshadow Europe in economic and scientific power; and emerging studies seem to support the claim that the imperial system may be the more intuitive and readily understood of the two systems. Consequently, rather than being moot, both arguments exclusively advanced over two centuries for converting to the metric system would appear now to prescribe the opposite course of action than that for which they were proposed (and Cate Blanchett has her answer). Is it possible that Jefferson, Adams, Reagan, and Napolean were right all along? Do the proponents of the metric system bely ulterior motives in their insistence the U.S. convert? Is there an element of academic snobbery in the hype about the metric system? Is it even possible that the metric system itself comes to us as some kind of political artifice born in protest of British imperialism? Has the time come to repeal the Metric Conversion Act?

Conclusions

There may be reason for judges and attorneys crafting local rules – or even the rules of civil procedure – to require that weights and measures in evidence be converted into customary units when supplied to juries. Could verdicts rendered by juries presented evidence in the metric system be collaterally attacked on the basis the metrics were not converted? In fact, it appears they have been. See Commonwealth v. Rivera, 918 N.E.2d 871, 874 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009) (finding non-harmless error where jury required to apply metric system without testimony about metric unit conversions). Despite all the advocacy over the years in favor of the metric system and denouncement of the imperial system as anachronistic, the belief in the superiority of the metric system might still be argued to be a large-scale example of groupthink. Perhaps there is still wisdom in the old Latin maxim, via antiqua via est tuta (the old way is the safe way).

STEVEN RINEHART is a patent attorney employed by the firm Vested Law LLP.

He regularly deals with questions of weights and measures in preparing patent applications.

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Plain City Stake Center Dedicatory Service

In Grandpa and Grandma’s possessions were two pamphlets from the 1979 and 1954 dedications of the church buildings in Plain City, Utah. Here is the 1979. Grandpa helped work on this building. He also helped extensively on the 1954 building. As I previously wrote, Grandpa also had a hand in obtaining the land for the construction of the 2, 7, and 8 Ward building. I will share the 1954 pamphlet at a later date.

Dedicatory Program for Plain City Stake Center 20 September 1979

Dedicatory Service

Plain City Utah Stake Center and Plain City Third & Fourth Wards

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2120 North 4575 West

September 30, 1979

2:00 PM

Dedicated under the direction of Bernard P. Brockbank

Member – First Quorum of Seventy

Stake Presidencies

Plain City Utah Stake

Samuel S Lower – 1st Counselor

President Kent W Calvert

R. Alton Griffin – 2nd Counselor

Ogden Utah Farr West Stake

Robert E Jennings – 1st Counselor

President H Orvil Holley

Shirl K Fadel – 2nd Counselor

Bishoprics in Plain City Utah Stake

Plain City Third Ward

Robert Ewer – 2nd Counselor

Bishop Layne S Thompson

Dennis Carlson – 1st Counselor

Plain City Fourth Ward

Ronald L Larsen – 2nd Counselor

Bishop Harold O Hadley

Theodore G Balderree – 1st Counselor

Farr West First Ward

E Robert Rauzi – 1st Counselor

Bishop Dale John Chugg

Sheldon W Taylor – 2nd Counselor

Farr West Second Ward

Val Stratford – 1st Counselor

Bishop Harvey W Higley

Paul W Bryner – 2nd Counselor

Plain City First Ward

Alvin G Foremaster – 1st Counselor

Bishop Darwin J Taylor

Gary L Thompson – 2nd Counselor

Plain City Second Ward

Ronald H Olsen – 1st Counselor

Bishop Robert L Sharp

William A Van Hulten – 2nd Counselor

Program

Organ Prelude – Marjorie Westergard

Prayer Hymn “Abide With Me” Dedicatory Choir Donna Vause Conducting, Marjore Westergard, Organist

Welcome and Acknowledgements – President Kent W Calvert

Hymn “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning” Choir and Congregation

Invocation – President J Raymond Johnson

Hymn “Oh How Lovely Was the Morning” (Jesus Lover of My Soul)

Multi-Media Presentation – Ward Conference Committee, Carl R Saunders, Rober Ewer, Harold Westergard, Photographer and Sound Technician Larry Hansen

Remarks – President H Orvil Holley

Remarks – President Kent W Calvert

Hymn “Song of Dedication”

Address and Dedicator Prayer – Bernard P Brockbank

Closing Hymn “Come Come Ye Saints” arr. by J Spencer Cornwall

Benediction – President Wayne Cottle

Organ Postlude – Marjorie Westergard

FLowers – McEntire’s Bachelor Bouquets

Historical Contributions – Plain City, Lyman Cook, Farr West, Helena Watson

Ushers – High Council & Assistants

Carl R Saunders, Boyd B Call, Ronald W Jenkins, F Leroy Williams, Owen C Garlick, R Kent Jenkins, Gary L Jackson, Steven F Smith, Dennis W Moss, Alan Yorganson, Rodney A Roper, Alan S Hadley, E Lionel Brady, Don H Wade, Robert A Ewer, Carl C White, Harold A Westergard, Ross C Moore, Duane Bullock, Scott K Jenkins, Sterling Mayhew, Lloyd Beutler

Stake Patriarch – Charles A Groberg

Dedicatory Program for Plain City Stake Center 20 September 1979

History of the Church in Plain City

A history of the Church in Plain City is and was directly related to the restoration of the Gospel in this dispensation and the organization of the Church in 1830. The conversion to Mormonism of many of the eventual settlers of Plain City and their testimonies of the truthfulness of this knowledge enabled the early saints to endure the physical hardships and the migration of modern Israel into the Salt Lake Valley.

A group of early saints, numbering about one hundred people, of neighbors, friends, and converts from Lehi, Utah, who found the water there had already been claimed, came north to Plain City on March 17, 1859 to make their new home, Their first homes were dugouts in the hill with a grass and dirt roof, and a dirt floor. Many of these dug-outs were used for meetings. Meetings were held outdoors and in a large tent.

One July 24, 1859, a dance was held on the barrens, near the dump to celebrate the saints arrival into the Salt Lake Valley. The music was furnished by a comb band, and many danced barefoot.

The first church and school was built in 1859 of adobe which was eighteen by twenty-four feet, and located on the south side of the square. In 1863 a twelve by eighteen foot split log addition was added. It was shingled at this time. A bowery of willows was constructed near the meeting house to be used in the summer. In 1874 a new building was built of adobe on the northeast corner of the square. In 1889 a brick chapel was dedicated which was across the street from the south side of the square. A kitchen, recreation all, upstairs, and classrooms were added in 1914. This building was born down in 1953. 1953-54 the present three-ward chapel was built and dedicated. This same building was remodeled and additions added. The dedication of the new remodeled building was February 14, 1971. 1978-79 the new Plain City Stake Center on 2125 North was built and dedicated September 30, 1979.

1859-1877 Plaint City was a branch with four different Presiding Elders. 1877-1960 Plain City was one ward with 12 different Bishops. 1960 the Plain City II Ward was created. 1974 the Plain City III Ward was created. 1977 the Plain City Stake was created. July 1979 the Plain City IV and V Wards were created.

History of Farr West Wards

On November 30, 1890, Harrisville and West Harrisville were divided and the west section was named Farr West. This name was selected to honor Lorin Farr, the first mayor of Ogden and former president of the Weber Stake, and Chauncy W West who prior to 1870 was presiding bishop of Weber County.

William Andrew Taylor Sr was chosen as the first bishop of the Farr West Ward (1890-1892), followed by William F McEntire (1892-1897), James Martin Sr (1898-1909), Moroni Chugg (1909-1928), Lorenzo Taylor (1928-1938), Almon D Brown (1959-1964), Brian L Taylor (1964-1971), Owen C Garlick (1971-1977). In 1972 the Farr West Ward was divided into Farr West First and Farr West Second Wards. Owen C Garlick remained bishop of Farr West First Ward and Jay A Davis became first bishop of the Farr West Second Ward (1972-1975), followed by Harold A Westergard (1975-1978), and Harvey W Higley (1978-present). Dale J Chugg followed Bishop Garlick as bishop of Farr West First (1977-present).

In 1873 the first building for church and school was built across from the present chapel. It was used until 1880 when the Ward Hall was built at the cost of $1,500. In 1926 the present chapel was dedicated by President Heber J Grant. This building cost $19,700. In 1958 an additional was built costing $142,000 and was dedicated by Richard L Evans.

In 1945 the Farr West Ward purchased 10 1/4 acres of land. This became the first welfare farm in the Farr West Stake.

The ward population listed for 1900 was 231; in 1931, 325; 1960, 577; in 1979, about 471 for Farr West First and about 670 for Farr West Second.

The Far West Wards have been in four different stakes; namely, Weber, North Weber, Farr West, and now Plain City.

Dedicatory Program for Plain City Stake Center 20 September 1979

“And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day” D&C 59:9

Sterling R Lyon – Architect

John L Wadman – General Contractor

Dedicatory Program for Plain City Stake Center 20 September 1979

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Richmond 1968

Sandy and Jackie Jonas, 142 State St, Richmond, Utah, 1968

I stumbled on this photo working through and scanning more photos from my Aunt Jackie. This may be the only color photo I have of my Mom in Richmond. That was the first thing that jumped out at me. I believe most of the photos from Richmond are black and white. The photo indicates it was developed in January 1969, which tells me it is from 1968. Good chance it is later in the summer or fall, trees, grass, and shrubs are in full greenery and there appears to be dead grass clippings on the sidewalk.

1968 would also put my Mom at 14 years old, Jackie at 8. Which could very well be. I would be somewhat tempted to suggest 1967. That same year they moved to 2652 Fairmont Avenue in Burley, Idaho. I have written about that move before. But that post also has a photo of Jackie very early on as well that appears to be similar age. Here is that photo again.

Jackie Jonas dancing on Fairmont Ave

Either way, the photo of my Mom about 14 caught my attention. I thought I would share it here to give it some context.

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Yellowstone 2020

In 2020, the Ross Family took a trip through the Pacific Northwest. Our first stop was the world’s first National Park, Yellowstone! We left Burley, Idaho about noon and headed out for a longer than week road trip.

Hiram and Aliza Ross at Grand Prismatic Spring, 31 July 2020
Aliza, Lillian, Hiram, and James Ross waiting for Old Faithful, 31 July 2020

We arrived for Old Faithful, but it was going to be another hour, so we wandered Geyser Basin to kill some time.

Castle Geyser, 31 July 2020
We took the Upper Geyser Basin Trail and Upper Geyser Hill Trail

Old Faithful proved true to her name!

Aliza, Hiram, Lillie, and Amanda Ross with Old Faithful in the background, 31 July 2020

That night we stayed in Lake Village.

Mud Volcano is a popular stop and one I remember as a kid, 1 August 2020
Aliza, James, Lillie, and Paul Ross at Dragons Mouth Spring, 1 August 2020
Bison Herd at Yellowstone, 1 August 2020
The world famous Lower Falls in Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, 1 August 2020
Even a selfie, Paul, Amanda, Aliza, Hiram, and James Ross, 1 August 2020
Another picture of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon from further down stream, you can see the top of the Lower Falls, 1 August 2020
James, Amanda, Lillie, Aliza, and Hiram Ross at Mammoth Hot Spring, 1 August 2020

Hiram Ross at Mammoth Hot Spring, 1 August 2020
Mammoth Hot Spring, Yellowstone National Park, 1 August 2020

The kids were worn out after a long day and we were then spending the night in Bozeman, Montana. We made our trip out of the park and to Montana to the C’mon Inn where we crashed for the night. The kids liked the Coy.

Aliza and Lillian Ross watching fish in Bozeman, Montana

You can read out about our visit the next day to the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman.

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Myler Girls

Sarah Myler, Mary Mylder, Ruby Myler, and Leila Myler

I came upon a stack of Van Leeuwen and Bremer photos from my cousin Jennie Bremer Britzman’s estate.

I worked through all the photos, sorted and scanned them. The ones I recognized I uploaded to FamilySearch. The ones I did not, I shared with other Van Leeuwen family online. Nearly all of the photos were named. This one above was one that nobody seemed to recognize.

The back of it only said the following in four rows:

“top Sarah

“Mary

“bottom Ruby right

“Leila left

I presumably had 4 sisters, or closely related girls, with the names of Sarah, Mary, Ruby, and Leila.

Since these were of some relationship or linkage to the Bremer/Van Leeuwen families, I posted on an Ogden website. Almost immediately I had an obituary that was shared with me.

I started researching Mary Myler Standing and everything seemed to fall into place. Reviewed their profiles on FamilySearch confirmed it. They looked like these girls and were the right age. One of them even had a similar photo of the same age, probably the same dress and same day. Not only had I found the family, these four sisters are relatives of Amanda and my kids through the Buttar/Keep line.

I am still not clear on how or why the photo might have been in with the stack of photos. My only hunch is that these girls grew up in Clarkston, Utah and somehow knew the Bremer family of Richmond, Utah.

Here is the obituary:

WASHINGTON TERRACE – Our precious, courageous mother, Mary Myler Standing died at home, Thursday morning, October 31, 2002 of cancer, with her testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ, and her membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still strong. She was generous to those in need, the Church Missionary Program, Humanitarian Aid and Perpetual Education Fund. Mary Standing was born January 7, 1912, in Clarkston, UT to George Joseph Myler and Rachel Buttars Myler, the third of six children. She grew up in Clarkston, UT and graduated from North Cache High School. She worked on the family farm with her dad. She was a good horse rider and loved to race her horse with anyone willing. She always loved music. In her youth she would play the organ to accompany her dad playing the violin. She married Joseph Rulon Standing of Fielding, UT on January 21, 1933 and sealed in the Logan Temple December 16, 1937. They were blessed with six daughters. Mary always sewed for her daughters through the years, even though many of those years she had to use a treadle sewing machine late into the night. She provided an atmosphere of music in her home for her daughters. This required her working outside of the home part-time so that she could afford to have a piano and have them take music lessons. Later, when living in Denver, she gave free piano lessons to young people in her ward who could not afford lessons. She was famous for her wonderful home-made fudge and Boston Crème candy. Kids came from all over the Terrace on Halloween and asked, “Is this the place where you get the home-made candy?” (She also made “melt-in-your-mouth” pie crusts.) Mary always welcomed everyone, expected or not, into her home for meals or for just a place to spend the night. Everyone always felt welcome. During World War II, Mary and Rulon moved from Fielding, UT to Ogden so he could work at the Ogden Arsenal. Mary worked at the Washington Terrace Drug Store, Ballard & Carter Electronics, and eventually became a professional seamstress, both in the Ogden area and Denver, CO, for 11 years. Mary retired as a professional seamstress in Denver in 1974. When her husband retired from Chevron in 1975, they returned to Washington Terrace to live. Mary and her husband celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in Ogden in 1983; they were one month short of their 66th anniversary at his death on December 15, 1998. Mary has served in numerous teaching and executive positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her husband served as ordinance workers in the Ogden Temple for a number of years. Mary always made the Savior and His Church her number one priority in her life. Her teachings and example of honesty, integrity, and testimony have been unwavering throughout her life. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved her and visited her often. They felt the love and interest she had for each of them. She is survived by a sister, Vendalyn Apgood of Clarkston, UT and brother, George Blaine Myler of Mesa, AZ. She is also survived by five daughters: Lois Howell (Don), Centerville, UT; Doris Hancock (Harlen), St. George, UT; Linda Anderson Lucas (Gary), North Ogden, UT; Susan Rideout (Mack) and Retta James (Rick), both of Salt Lake City, UT, and 20 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren, numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren whom she loved with great devotion. She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Kathleen Standing; parents; and three sisters, Leila Thompson, Sarah Godfrey, Ruby Godfrey. The family wishes to thank Dr. Frank Haglund, McKay Dee Hospital Staff, and CNS Hospice staff, especially Michelle Miller, Doris Valentine, and Queenie Aydelott. Viewings will be held Sunday evening, Nov. 3rd, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Leavitt’s Mortuary, 836 36th St., in Ogden, UT, and Monday morning, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Washington Terrace Third Ward, 4900 S. 300 W. The services follow in the chapel at 12 noon. Burial will be at the Fielding, UT Cemetery.

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Heyburn kids read the summer away

May Melycher, 8, enjoys the food at a special picnic for students who participated in a successful summer reading program at Heyburn Elementary.

By Wayne Hoffman

Heyburn – You don’t picture students reading and taking tests during the summer. But at Heyburn, students have just finished a program which encouraged them to do both on their own.

Heyburn Elementary School Students have been going to the school library two days a week since June. They’ve been encouraged to check out books based on how well they’re able to read on their own.

When they’re done with each book, they take a computer comprehension test. Correct answers earn them points to spend at the school’s Reader’s Emporium.

The Parent Teacher’s Organization sponsors the Reader’s Emporium – a special store where earned points earn everything from costume jewelry to stuffed cougars to radios.

May Melycher, 8, said she enjoyed reading books to her little brother, Jesse, 3.

“I mostly read Disney books because he likes the stories,” May said. “He likes Lion King the best.”

May’s mom, Jackie Melycher, said the reading program has helped Jesse, as he’s been a slow talker.

It’s helped May, also.

“May is a good reader,” Jackie Melycher said. She’s done so well in Mrs. Jones’ class.”

About 500 hundred students signed up to check out books and take tests during the summer. Yesterday, the kids who took part in the program and the parents and school staffers who helped with it were honored at a special picnic on school grounds.

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Jonas-Melycher Wedding

Paul – Married in a small private ceremony at the home of the bride’s mother in Paul were Jackie Jonas of LaGrande Ore., and William Francis “Willie” Melycher of Spirit Lake, Idaho. The cemerony, performed at 7 p.m. by Bishop Ronald Nielsen of the Paul LDS Second Ward, was held on July 23 at the home of Colleen A. Jonas, 575 W. 50 S., Paul.

The bridegroom is the son of William Francis “Red” Melycher, Newtown, Conn.

The bridge, given in marriage by Douglas Norwood Jonas of Anchorage, Alaska, wore a gown made by Joyce Miller, fashioned in the full length of white lace with white satin robbon bow around the neck and a cumberbund. Her mesh headdress was enhanced on each side with strands of flowers and beads. Her flowers were gardenias and white roses.

Matron of honor was Sandy Jonas Ross; the flower girl was Andra Ross; ringbearer Paul Norwood Jonas Ross; and the best man Milo Paul Ross.

The bride’s colors were turquoise, aquamarine and teal, with decorations by Patty’s. Candelabra was furnished by Alice Cannon. Pianist was Susan Neibaur.

Cindy Hotchkiss made the three tiered wedding cake, decorated in the bride’s colors and floral accents of gardenias, white roses, and greenery. Colleen A. Jonas cut and served the cake.

Others assisting were Sergene Sorenson and Rae Smith.

The couple traveled to Newtown prior to the wedding.

The bride, a graduate of Burley High School and Boise State University, is a brakeman for the Union Pacific Railroad at LaGrande; and her husband is a graduate of Henry Abbott Technical in Danbury, Conn., and is chief ultrasonic rail inspector for Dapco Industries, Inc., Ridgefield, Conn.

Back (l-r): Milo and Sandy Ross, Willie and Jackie Melycher, Doug Jonas, Colleen Jonas, Brook Jonas; Front: Paul and Andra Ross

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Evan Jonas family visiting Burley

(l-r) Norwood Jonas, Jackie Jonas, Susan Jonas, Evan Jonas, Shelly Jonas, Lona Jonas

This was a fun photo to stumble on. I think this photo was 1968/1969. Grandpa & Grandma Norwood & Colleen Jonas moved to Burley, Cassia, Idaho in 1968. I am unclear if they had the house built in 1968 or if someone else built it and they were the first owners of the home. I have written with other photos of the home at 2652 Fairmont Avenue.

I don’t know the occasion or anything else. But it is fun that Evan & Lona brought the two youngest to come and visit at this time. A good looking picture of all of them. Two dapper brothers and their daughters.