Musings of a Muddled Male

BUGGED

This time of year I am consumed with vacuuming.  If you were to ask Ann, my wife, she would claim that she does all the vacuuming at our house, mostly because she doesn't trust me to do the job completely or correctly.  But Ann is talking about domestic vacuuming, the kind that keeps our carpets so pristine that Ann requires me to take my shoes off outside on the deck and then wrap myself in new, unused Saran Wrap before she will let me step onto her floors.  The kind of vacuuming to which I refer is the annual bug removal I do with my shop vac' in an attempt to eradicate the miserable, tobacco spitting, Box Elder bugs that infest our area this time of year and spot our house with their deposits in spite of my regular vacuum attacks. 

I'm afraid that we erred when we painted our house pastel green.  I thought that because we didn't have Box Elder trees there wouldn't be Box Elder bugs.  Silly me.  Each fall we have to wash our house to remove the dark, brownish green Box Elder bug tobacco juice dabbed randomly all over our clean windows, white vinyl window trim, and pastel green siding.  Yuk!! 

I had hoped that Bryce Neilson would write a Cisco Sonar column covering "One Hundred Ways to Abuse and Loose Box Elder Bugs," but he is partial to the grander things in nature like moose, eagles, Bear Lake aquatic life, and turkeys.  So I am left up here on the hill to face our infestation by myself.  I have sucked so many Box Elder bugs into my shop vac' that I need to empty it and clean the filter, but I am afraid to open the top since I also ingested a bunch of hornets that had been reconnoitering our home for a place to stay warm during the winter. 

Now I am trying a new tactic.  I noticed that all the other cabins in our area are painted earth tone colors.  I thought it was to make certain that the cabins blend in with their surroundings.  I recognize now that it is so that cabin owners can just ignore the Box Elder bugs since the earth tone bug deposits don't stand out on siding painted an earth tone color.  So I've decided to have the house re-painted a kind of tobacco juice shade.  I figure that my friends the Box Elder bugs should have the house completely repainted in about three years, if I stop vacuuming.  In the meantime, if you drive by a partially earth tone colored cabin, that is where I live.  And I have a slightly used shop vac' for sale.  I was hoping to get $10 for it, but I'll sell it to you for $5 if you will take off the top and clean the filter yourself.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

The controlled burn in Hell's Hollow began on October 8 and could take place throughout the area until November 30. The controlled area involves 1,280 acres of SITLA lands and 3,000 acres of National Forest Syrstem Lands according to the Logan Ranger District. The burn area is closed to the public during the days of the burn. You can expect to see and smell the smoke which may linger during the evening and early morning hours.

An Inspirational Tale

Mayor Spuhler Awarding Ned Phelps Certification of Swimming North to South of Bear Lake

An Inspirational Tale

A few years ago my dad Neal Phelps decided that he was going to swim across Bear Lake (North to South). Although, my dad had always been a great swimmer no one believed that he was in the right health to make such a swim. In 1996 my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer and had 4 surgeries. All of his recoveries were faster than doctors expected; proving him to be a fighter. He trained for nearly a year to do the swim of his dreams and on July 18th 2009 Neal Phelps became the 1st man to ever swim Bear Lake. He was 56 years old at the time of the swim and it took him 13 hours; starting and North Beach at 7am and ending at Rendezvous Beach at 8pm. The swim is over 20 miles and the water was 64 degrees. Robin Phelps (wife) and Dan Putnam (friend) road in a boat beside him the whole time. My dad never set out to be the fastest swimmer. He decided on his goal to be the 1st man on record to do it and that he was. He has often said "there will always be someone who can do it faster, but I did it first and no one can break that record." I love my dad so much and I am so proud of him!!!! He is truly a hero in my eyes! 

For more info here is the article from the Standard-Examiner that was written about my dad's swim:

Jul. 22--HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- It took Neal Phelps a grueling 13 hours to swim across Bear Lake, but fighting against the current is nothing new for the 56-year-old Layton resident.

On July 18, Phelps swam the length of Bear Lake from Idaho to Utah, a 20-plus-mile test of endurance in 64 degree water.Layton resident Dan Putnam, who monitored Phelps from a boat during his swim, said from shore to shore, the distance is just over 18 miles, but due to choppy water and winds, Phelps had some difficulty swimming in a straight line.

"Believe it or not, the water current was pretty strong," Phelps said. "It was tough to stay completely level. It was a battle."

Phelps has had his fair share of battles during his life.
In 1996, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and eventually had four brain surgeries to remove tumors.

"I was first diagnosed and had an operation, but then a year later, they found three more cancerous nodules that they had to cut out," Phelps said. During his bout with the disease, Phelps not only endured the cancer treatment that included the surgeries, but also suffered through severe anxiety and epileptic seizures.

"It was a tough time for me and my family especially," he said. "They never knew when I was going to drop down and fall to the floor from a seizure."

Phelps has worked at Hill Air Force Base for 21 years and currently serves as an Aerospace Engineering Branch chief. He has been cancer-free for 11 years and decided to celebrate by testing himself physically to prove he had fully beaten the disease.

"I guess in a way it was kind of like a midlife crisis," Phelps said. "My wife was glad I chose the swim, because it was a lot cheaper than a sports car."

Phelps said he was partly inspired to do the Bear Lake challenge by another swimmer who shares the same last name.

"It all started after I saw Michael Phelps in the Olympics," he said, quick to point out there is no relation between him and the swimmer who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. "I knew I couldn't win an Olympic gold, but I thought there was something out there I could do. Swimming Bear Lake was what came to mind."
Soon after the Olympics, Phelps began training daily at the pool at the Hess Fitness Center on base. He also did a 9-mile swim at Willard Bay in preparation for Bear Lake.
The 13-hour swim began at North Beach in Idaho at 7 a.m. and ended at Rendezvous Beach after 8 p.m.

Where Does Bear in Bear Lake Come From?

Doug and Elaine Alder

By Doug Alder, Historian

According to Robert Parson in his "History of Rich County," the name "Bear Lake" was only adopted gradually. Fur tappers used that name sometimes but also "Sweetwater," "Black Bear Lake" and "Weber Lake" for John H. Weber of the Ashley-Henry Fur Company. (p. 134-14)

There is no question that there were bears in the valley. That was not unusual. Bears roamed over much of the mountain areas of the west. Bears were the frustration of cattlemen and sheep herders. There are reports of bear killings in herds until recently.

The most famous tale of a bear hunt in our area is about Old Ephraim. The tale is told that in August 1923 Frank and Jared Clark decided to hunt down a bear that had moved from an occasional killing of sheep for sustenance to destroying many at a time. The Clarks were in Temple Fork Canyon, a few miles above the present YW Girl's Camp. The Clarks had tracked him; his trail was recognizable because of his misshapen paw. That he had recently killed a dozen ewes, motivated them to get him. They considered it pure lust.

They laid out several traps, but then discovered what they knew to be his wallow. Frank greased his boots and gloves and set a trap in the water and covered it with leaves. He dug a trench for the chain and tied it to a fourteen-foot log. He covered the entire apparatus with leaves and put drops of sheep's blood on it to drive away the human scent. It was his masterpiece. He went back to his camp and waited all night. His horses skittered. Frank had heard nothing all night. When he reached the trap site the next morning, he was stunned. There beside the wallow sat the trap, unsprung. Ephraim had defied him. Frank carefully reset the trap and went back to camp. Early the next morning he heard a log slam. He could hear the wounded bear moan. He grabbed his rifle which had six bullets in it, his side arm with one bullet, and his knife. He started running toward the sound. He ran with all his might while carrying his weapons. Then he suddenly realized he had run too far. Now Old Ephraim was between Frank and his comrades. Soon Frank and the bear were looking into each other's eyes. Frank fired. It had no impact. He fired again and again. Ephraim kept lunging toward Frank. Frank shot bullet number six. it did not stop

the bear. Finally the bear jumped with his mouth wide open, Frank fired his side arm into Ephraim's mouth, and the bear fell at his feet. Frank's brother and three friends arrived just at that time and saw Frank, unable to move, and the bear gasping its last breath.

If you want to go on a hike up Temple Fork Canyon, you will find a monument at the site.

Garden City To Install New Decorative Lights

New solar lights on 14 foot poles with decorative panels designed by Gomez Welding are being installed this week or next. The lights will give a warm glow to the downtown and define it. The poles not only have one side decorated with moose, elk, bears or sailboats but they have an attachment which will allow for banners to promote city wide events.

Last year in an attempt to save money in the city nearly 50 lights were shut off in side streets. It saves nearly $1,000 per month. Lights were left on at intersections, where children meet the school bus and in other areas of public safety needs. The city felt that in side streets, where people can install their own lighting to use as needed, the city could use the money saved for other projects with more immediate needs. Actually with the addition of the decorative lighting, Garden City should look warm and inviting without impacting the "night sky" views.

Garden City Fire Restrictions For Fall & Winter

GARDEN CITY- Although, Rich County has not lifted the county summer fire restrictions due to dry conditions, Garden City Council has lifted the Garden City summer restrictions.  It is now permissable to burn in an approved firepit (approved by Dan Kurek, fire chief) and to burn brush with a special permit obtained by contacting the fire department.

Garden City Council Meeting

GARDEN CITY -  At the Garden City Council meeting held October 11, representatives of JUB Engineering said that the Shundahai water system which is owned by Garden City as a result of agreements signed about 13 years ago is now approved by the state and online.  Mayor John Spuhler said that in the last few years pre-engineering and sign offs have been required by the city, so that the difficulties in solving post building problems will not happen.

 

Spuhler said that the Water’s Edge engineers will work with both the town engineers and the state engineers on water systems before any development is allowed.  All developers are required to hold preliminary meetings with city and state engineers and public works directors in “All Effected Entities” meetings, not only is this good for the developers who can “test the waters” before a lot of money is spent, but it protects the city also.

Danny White said that the emergency water connection to Sweetwater Hillside which protects both the city and Sweetwater in the case of a large fire or other emergency has been completed and will be signed off by the state this week. 

Riley Argyle, public works director, said that the water treatment plant is finally running well and without problems.  He is looking at doing more GIS mapping and is working with the canal company  to ditch and pipe around the fish pond in Heritage Park .  More trees are being planted in the park around the pond.  People are still catching a lot of fish in the well-stocked pond. 

The public restrooms will be finished at the end of October.  There was  discussion about putting an informational kiosk  near them, but many felt that a location on Highway 30 would be better.

 

Medicare Class

Bear River Area Agency on Aging is holding a Medicare class on October 24 at 6 p.m. at the Health Department in Garden City at 115 S Bear Lake Blvd. The web page is www.brag. utah.gov

Rich Legends and Melodies

Rich Legends and Melodies

Randolph, Utah -Friday November 16, 2012 at 6:30pm

Rich High School Auditorium

Garden City, Utah- Saturday November 17, 2012 at 6:30pm

In the Lake View room, north of the city offices

Come One Come All

to the third annual Rich Legends and Melodies, an old time remembrance of cowboy stories, life in Rich County, funny happenings, Bring your whole clan to enjoy the evening of comedy and drama! Event is free and will last approximately 2 hours.

Early Voting

NOTICES

OCTOBER 23rd – NOVEMBER 2nd
Rich County Clerk’s Office
20 South Main
Randolph, UT 84064

Open Mon.-Fri. 9:15 to 4:30
Open Friday the 2nd 9:00 to 5:00

In order to be eligible to participate in early voting,
voters must be registered to vote
by October 9, 2012

MUST HAVE VALID ID WITH YOU TO VOTE!!