• Local Torchbearers named for the 2002 Olympics, each will carry the torch for 2/10th of of mile

• Two teens charged with burglary
  
  
• Engineering firm reviews safety concerns with Commissioners over Highway 91
  
  
• Police Chief reminds hunter to
  "STAY AWAY"
  from sewer lagoons
  
  
• Obits
  
  
• Classified Ads
  
  
• Home
  
  
• Back

Nephi Mayor Chad Brough announced the local torchbearers at a special ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 9, in City Council Chambers. He presented each one with a commemorative Nephi pin. Those selected to carry the torch are Mike Brown, Kate Bates, Leonard Trauntvein, Mariann Gibson, JaNell Stephenson, Gina Taylor and Iris Tolley. The torch is shaped to represent an icicle. Torchbearers were selected because they have inspired others. Each of the seven were given an opportunity to speak to the audience after they were called forward.

Mike Brown said his parents had been told when he was born to leave him in the hospital because of the stiffening of the joints disease he suffers from. Because of the bull-headedness of his parents, he had learned to walk and was now going to participate as a 2002 Olympic Torchbearer.

He had noticed, as the torchbearers were announced in Salt Lake City, that those honored were people from all walks of life, all ages, and in all conditions.

"I consider it quite an honor," he said.

"I have liked to run for about two years," said Kate Bates. She thanked her father for getting her interested in running and for her nomination.

Leonard Trauntvein, a former educator who spent 31 years in the schools in Nephi, was nominated by his son, Todd Trauntvein, American Fork.

"When my son, Todd, told me that he had nominated me to help carry the Olympic torch, I did not think there would be a ghost of a chance that I would be selected," he said. "To play one small roll in such an event was beyond my imagination. This is a once in a life time chance offered to a few fortunate persons."

Todd said that he nominated his father because he had committed his life to improving individuals and getting them to "Light the Fire Within".

"My father is directly responsible for the education of three generations of the citizens of Nephi, has inspired many people in the state and many members of his staff have moved on to be administrators in education as well."

"He also served as a scout leader with the Boy Scouts of America and received the organization's Silver Beaver Award for his achievement and years of service."

Mariann Gibson was nominated by her daughter, Rebecca Dopp, because of her 22 years of volunteer work with Girl Scouts and 25 years of volunteer work with Federated Women's Clubs. She has volunteered with the 4-H, Special Olympics, Nephi Library Board, Juab County Fair, PTA, and many charity organizations.

"To be honored for doing something you love is overwhelming to say the least," she said. "I never dreamed that my nomination would ever go any further than a sweat gesture. I was very emotional when I heard about it. I'm not extraordinary, I'm just a person who cares. I am extremely honored to have been selected."

JaNell Stephenson declined the opportunity to make a comment. Her shyness spoke volumes.

Council Member Kent Park said that Stephenson is in the ninth grade at Juab High and is a big fan of the Utah Jazz.

"She has a neurological disorder called Sturge-Weber Syndrome," said Park. "In February, she had a hemispherectomy to help diminish the seizures she has had since birth."

"In her 14 years, she has overcome many obstacles, physical challenges, and is a great inspiration to all who know her," he said. "Her daily life is not easy, but she never complains, she just keeps on going."

Stephenson is the daughter of Marlo and Heidy Stephenson.

Iris Tolley, Nephi, was nominated for the inspiration she continues to be to others as a cancer survivor and advocate for those who are discouraged by the disease.

Iris has run in marathons on every continent in the world. She was nominated by her daughter, Gina Taylor, who now lives in Santaquin. The two women will carry the torch as a team.

Gina Taylor said she was proud to be running with her mother. "I nominated my Mom and I'm proud to do this with my Mom," she said.

A poet had said that the measure of true success is in what your kids say about you to your friends, said Tolley. When she had been called by a representative of SLOC, the woman had told her that her daughter had said a lot of wonderful things about her and Tolley said she considered that the greatest compliment of all.

As a survivor of breast cancer, Tolley has been active in doing all she can to promote awareness of the disease. Because of her activity, she has climbed mountains and run races.

The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay will travel more than 13, 500 miles across the United States in 65 days, carried by 11, 500 torchbearers as it travels through 46 states. It will travel via torchbearers, Chevrolet cars and trucks, airplane, train, ship, dog sled, skier, horse-drawn sleigh, snowmobile, ice skaters, ski jumper, etc. Each torchbearer will carry the Olympic Flame approximately 0.2 miles.

Torchbearers were nominated by family members, friends and colleagues who wrote essays explaining how the nominee embodied the Olympic Spirit and provided inspiration to others and to their community. The nominations were gathered through SLOC, Coca-Cola and Chevrolet during March and April of 2001. More than 210,000 nominations were received nationwide.

As the torch go around the country, please be aware of each story. The light the flame will gather around America is cumulative, and by the time it comes here, the torch will represent all those amazing, inspiring stories.

The announcement in Salt Lake City had been postponed, said Mitt Romney, SLOC president because of the horror which struck New York, Washington D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania. The ceremony was set to begin in New York on the day of the Sept. 11 disaster. It was set to spread from there across the states to Utah.