Give To The Foundation Of Bear Lake

To those who would like to help with the development of paths and parks at Bear Lake:

The Foundation of Bear Lake would like to thank the following businesses for their help in getting the Foundation started: Recreation Realty, LaBeau’s, Vista Realty, KOA, Bear Lake Realty, & Bruce Warner, CPA.

We have raised $700 so far. To register for a 1023 (IRS Application for recognition as a tax-exempt foundation) we need to raise another $400. It is $850 for the IRS and another $150 for a lawyer to review the documents.

You may deposit to the Foundation of Bear Lake at any Wells Fargo institution or send a check to PO Box 88, Garden City, UT 84028.

Remember, at this time of giving that your contribution goes directly to the Foundation to help with the startup costs.

 

Bess Huefner  Executive Chair

435-881-3223

dbhuefner@yahoo.com

Cisco Sonar

ED Note: We are having trouble sharing files, so this is a column from 2012..but the bird counting goes on this year.

By Bryce Neilson

I am sure that everyone is getting ready for the Holidays.  That means I will once again be involved in the Bear Lake Christmas Bird Count.  

Over the last ten years, a small core group of birders from Cache Valley come over to participate with a few of us from here.  The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a national event that covers most of North America.  It was started years ago by the Audubon Society in an attempt to develop trend data on regional bird numbers using volunteer birdwatchers.  Different areas were established and people went out, observed, identified and counted birds. 

Dennis Austin, a wildlife biologist from Cache Valley, now retired, started the Bear Lake Count.  He felt that it was important to document what species of birds were wintering here at the Lake.  Trying to get participants has been a challenge over the years.  There just doesn’t seem to be many bird watchers here.  You don’t need to be a member of the Audubon Society, just someone interested in birds.  The count will occur December 27,  regardless of weather.  We have done them in the sun, blizzards and when it is so cold you can barely make it out of the truck.  You count the birds in your area, but nowhere else to avoid duplication. 

I know that lots of people feed birds around the lake and in recent years these numbers have been included.  At the end of the day Dennis collects and tallies the count information and submits it to the Audubon Society.  All of the bird counts from all over are then combined and published in a magazine.

Obviously the species and numbers  change throughout the years with environmental conditions but every year we see new species, don’t see birds we had seen before and generally have a  good time, outside, with our binoculars.  It even helps me with my infamous weather predictions associated with wildlife.  We are always looking for volunteers and we will be happy to train.  Just let me know.

Monte Cristo Snowmobile Parking Passes Available

Willard, Utah – Season parking passes for the Monte Cristo Snowmobile Trailhead are now available for $50. Customers purchasing passes before December 31 receive a $5 discount. Day-use passes are available for $5 a day.

Passes are available at Willard Bay State Park or at the Monte Cristo Trailhead when grooming begins. To purchase by mail, please send a cashier’s check or money order to Willard Bay State Park at 900 West 650 North, Willard, UT 84340.

A Moose On The Mountain

Photo by Tammy Calder

Rich Middle School Student of the Month and Citizen of the Month for November

Student of the Month

Sixth Grade – Brittney Lamborn & Joshua England 

Seventh Grade – Aaron Cook & Kennedy Eastman 

Eighth Grade – Shelby Burton & Sydney Hatch

Citizen of the Month

Sixth Grade - Danny Staheli & Chancie Shafer

Seventh Grade – Teanna Chandler & Travis Gifford

Eighth Grade – Taylor Jacobson & Levi Linkogle

Morning And Evening Over The Lake

Photos by Travis Buys

Possible New Ski Rec Area Above Bridgerland

Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  November 4, 2015.  It was reported to the Garden City Planning Commission that there are 400 acres of school trust land just below the Bear Lake Lookout area and above Bridgerland.  It is actually divided in half by Highway 89.  

Currently this land is being studied for a possible recreational area.  Easements across the area for biking, hiking, and skiing trails are being considered. 

It was noted that there are several locations that could be used for ski trick parks.  These areas are set up as small skiing slopes where people can practice different skiing tricks.  Younger skiers will sometimes spend hours on these slopes becoming more and more skilled in becoming skilled in performing different skiing tricks.  

A master plan is being designed.  The City is interested in working with the school trust land area to make Garden City more available for winter sports instead of only being a summer vacation destination.

Garden City Planning & Zoning Commission Held

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  November 4, 2015.  A public hearing was held prior to the Planning Commission Meeting.  A discussion concerning the Dark Sky Ordinance was held.  Ideas and suggestions were made.

The Regular meeting was called to order at 5 p.m.  

Joey Stocking was given the oath of office becoming the newest member of the Planning Commission by Tammie Calder.

Minutes from the last meeting were discussed and approved. 

A conditional use permit application to add eight additional glamping tents and four more wagon circles to Conestoga Ranch was requested by Mike Knapp.  However, no one from the Conestoga Ranch was present at the meeting.  Several members of the Commission had questions concerning this permit.  Because there was no representation from the Resort, the item was tabled until the next meeting.

The motion was made and seconded to accept the updated Dark Sky Ordinance.  Several suggestions from the public hearing were incorporated into the ordinance prior to its acceptance by the Planning Commission.

A discussion of the recreation vehicles ordinance was held.  A definition for recreational vehicles was needed.  There needs to be some City control over fifth-wheelers, trailers, campers, cabin boats, and so forth.  The definition needs to include all types of vehicles that contain cooking and eating facilities.  Also, other suggestions were made to update the current recreation vehicle ordinance.  Members of the Commission were asked to look over the current ordinance and be prepared to make suggestions at the next Planning Meeting.

The Planning Commission went through the process of creating a recreational estates/agricultural zone several months ago.  The City Council decided that the Planning Commission had misinterpreted this zoning area and decided that the area along third West should be placed into that zone. 

The reason for creating this particular zone is to have a place for any sexual-oriented business to build if they should happen to come into the community.  Without having such a zone determined and set aside, such a business could build anywhere within the City.  The Commission felt making a zone on the south west part of Garden City would keep such a type of business in an area away most of the homes and family businesses.  If a city does not designate a zone for sexually-oriented business, they may go anywhere. The Commission picked an area and zoned it as Recreational Estates/Agricultural zone.  They made a list of the types of businesses that would be permitted in that particular zone.  They are hoping that the City Council will approve their action.