Renovation work resumes at Payson theater Many people have been asking, “What’s happening with the Huish Theater? When’s it going to be finished?” The exterior improvements are obvious. The photo shows the upgraded exterior of the building as it stands today compared to 2006 before renovation began. The interior improvements are not so obvious. Much had been accomplished both inside and out up until January of this year when the theater’s owner, Gordon Taylor passed away and fundraising ceased. With Facebook and various online fundraising websites, the project can now move forward again with help from the public. The new website, http://huishpace. com, will be coming online shortly and will have lots of great details about the renovation progress. There are a lot of exciting features planned that will make the Huish Performing Arts and Cultural Education (PACE) Center a truly remarkable venue whose time has come in the south end of Utah County. Renovation will take place in phases as funds become available. Phase 1 plans are in place at this writing to install ADA-compliant restrooms in the rental unit just east of the main entrance. The other two rental spaces along Utah Avenue will be outfitted as a small performance venue for dance classes, a comedy club, areas for music lessons and performances, and oth-
er such uses. Once this venue is ready to go and a cash flow is generated, Phase 2 will begin, which will focus on the inside of the building, including the auditorium. A 56 foot by 42 foot stage was completed in 2013, electrical service was upgraded, some seismic upgrades were made, a waterproof membrane was installed on the roof, the old coal boiler and chimney were removed and replaced with a new HVAC system, a steel beam was fabricated which will support a new balcony that will be added, a new office/conference room was completed on the second floor, and a new, all-volunteer theater board of trustees was formed to head up the project. A gofundme.com account has been setup (www.gofundme.com/27z6xzr9) as well as a Facebook page (http://facebook/ huishpace). You can also donate at any Central Bank branch under the name Huish PACE. Since all the work will be done in phases, only small amounts need to be raised at a time. Large or small, any and all donations will help and will be greatly appreciated. Huish PACE is a nonprofit organization, making all donations tax deductible. Located at 98 W. Utah Ave., the Huish Theater was built by the David Huish family in 1948. Movies were shown there for many years before the theater closed in Jauary of 2002.
The Huish Theater in Payson is shown before and after its exterior upgrades in 2006 and 2016. Renovation work is again moving forward at the building.
Local injured veteran beats the odds By Stacy Thomas At the onset of the holiday weekend, as prime seating for parade routes were being staked out and the typical patriotic decor began to adorn porches and storefronts, I set out for the Central Utah Veterans Home to interview a veteran. On arrival, I was directed down various hallways where I passed by several residents with smiling faces and received warm greetings from the attending staff. I found my way to the room of Bruce Erickson, who was visiting with his wife Debbie. I was prepared to hear a few war stories, or even a “good old days” memory of when boot camp was more like boot camp because it was an uphill-both-ways-in-the-snow kind of boot camp. The story Bruce shared with me confirmed he is a veteran both brave and resilient but not at all what I expected. Bruce and Debbie married in 1970, the same year Bruce joined the military. He started in the Army, then transferred to the Air Force and then the Navy Reserve. He put in a total of 15 years of service ranging from medevac, VIP airlift and fleet support throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Mediterranean. Bruce spent the next 17 years piloting commercial flights and raising a family. Their children grew, started families of their own and began to settle in Utah. A long-awaited retirement had finally come for Bruce and Debbie and the gravitational pull of family and, of course, grandchildren led them to Utah as well. They chose to settle down in the beautiful community of Timber Lakes just east of Heber.
Payson Market raising funds for girl with rare condition By Stacy Thomas
Steve Parsons
Technology has helped paralyzed veteran Bruce Ericksen increase his independence.
It was at their home in June of 2007 where Bruce was in an ATV accident. Debbie and her brother were nearby when the accident occurred. When asked how they attempted to revive him, Debbie cheerily replied, “My brother gave him a good slap!” Despite their admirable ability to recall even the darkest of moments with revelry and humor, the reality was grim. Bruce’s injuries were severe: paralysis from the neck down. He spent three months in hospitals, but no improvement was made. Bruce was released still in crit-
ical condition; he was sent home to die. The best estimate was five months. Debbie did not have a medical background; she had taught art to junior high students as well as early-morning seminary. Perhaps it was her creativity and faith that carried her past the five-month estimate. Under her care, Bruce slowly came off the machines and began to get well again. They found a wheelchair that, with a few minor adjustments, he could operate on his own as well as a device that See VET on Page A3
“In our stores, we believe that our people make a world of difference. We invest in our people so that they can take care of you.” This statement is found on the Payson Market website and it’s more than just empty rhetoric. Just ask Tina Holman. Tina works in their deli department. In 2006, her daughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with Vanishing White Matter (VWM). VWM is an extremely rare condition that destroys myelin, the brain’s white matter. There is currently no cure for VWM. It is a progressive condition and sufferers can expect an increasing loss of motor skills, loss of vision, epileptic seizures and more. Few sufferers survive more than 5 to 10 years after onset. Payson Market, on behalf of Tina and her daughter, is trying to make a difference. Throughout the month of July, customers will have the opportunity to purchase a balloon for $1. The balloons will be collected, and on Aug. 6, all balloons will be filled with helium and released. Manager Mike Tippetts envisions a rainbow of color floating through the sky as part of a “Find a Cure for VWM” local fundraisSee FUNDRAISER on Page A3