Rich High Girls Volleyball

Rich High School Girls Are Flying Against Altamont!

Photos by Tammy Calder

 

 

Sunrise Below The Storm Clouds

Photo by Tammy Calder

PTO Fundraiser October 3, Laketown

A Sad And Shameful Day For Garden City Fire District

Editorial

It is a sad and shameful day
for the Garden City Fire District

 

Dan Kurek
 

Currently the Garden City Fire District has one of the best fire departments in the entire multi-county region. Chief Dan Kurek has written grants that have brought in funds to buy engines, brush trucks, life-saving equipment, and to pay for long-term and extensive firefighter training so that no taxes have had to be raised since he was hired.  During his tenure the entire debt of purchasing the fire station from Garden City has been retired. Kurek has not only overseen the efforts that have made the Garden City Fire District become a first rate organization, but has done many things outside the district and for the entire County.  Woodruff now has a fire truck, its first.  That truck came as a result of Chief Kurek making arrangements through some of his prior fire department connections to make that happen.   
 

Modern 800 MhZ radios that allow emergency workers to communicate with each other are another result of Chief Kurek’s efforts.  He has made sure that the best equipment has been purchased and had tried to make the radios available to all of the mergency service groups within the county.

 

Garden City Fire District recently received a grant that allowed the firemen to obtain new turnouts (personal protective gear).  Since turnouts are not private property, but owned by the Fire District, the old turnouts were handed back to the department.  Many are still in good condition and have plenty of service life left in them.  Kurek suggested that many Laketown firemen need turnouts.  He requested the board make the turnouts available to Laketown and that they be invited to come and get fitted with the turnouts that are at the Garden City Fire Station. 

Chief Kurek is especially good at training.  Every time classes are offered, any interested individuals throughout the County have been invited and could have taken advantage of the opportunity to become certified in the different facets of firefighting.  On a separate public safety issue, emergency medical technicians have been sorely needed in the County.  Kurek set up classes, brought in necessary instructors when needed and made opportunities available to many individuals to become qualified EMTs.  Kurek, himself, is an Advanced EMT.  

 

It has been exciting for the citizens of Garden City to watch the growth and progress that has been made by the Fire District here.  Individuals know that if there is a problem, response will be immediate, massive, and professional.   For example, is there a fire department anywhere that could have saved half of Dave and Julie Stringham’s house, as the department did in their fire?  Or responded last summer in minutes to potentially devastating wildfires on the Sweetwater hill, as the department did?  Or saved a life on the east side of the lake as they did this summer using extrication equipment only they had? There is a feeling of pride when we drive by the Fire Station and see the equipment and trucks available to help in an emergency.  It also gives everyone a sense of well-being to know that if there is any emergency where the ambulance is needed, there are enough people trained to handle those types of situations.

 

Thus, it was with sorrow and regret to hear that Chief Kurek has resigned from the Fire Department because of the actions of a board that had a small but vocal group of inept members.  A small subset of the board members began requiring Chief Kurek to spend certain hours at the fire station whether there were things he needed to do elsewhere or not, and then chastised him for working longer hours during other times. There was no pleasing them.  They began micro-managing to the extent that the successful and professional Kurek could no longer make the necessary decisions or do what was required to continue to allow the Department to grow and to become better and better.   

Not only were these 3 board members demanding and dictatorial, but they insisted on compliance in an unprofessional and cutting way.  It is understandable that he is resigning. No individual should be treated in that manner.  It is interesting to note that this small group of 3 board members also had the highest absenteeism rate from the fire board meetings. All of these board members were appointed by the county commissioners. 

Garden City could lose an individual who has made a tremendous contribution to the betterment and welfare of the entire district.  Garden City is losing a tremendous asset.  The County is also losing someone who cares about others and was always willing and wanting to help.

These are Chief Kurek's certifications: Firefighter I, Firefighter II,
Wildland I, Instructor I, Inspector I, CPR Certified, CPR Instructor, EMT Advanced, EMT Instructor, Rescue Tech, Certification Tester, ADO-Pumper, Squad Boss, Hazmat Awarness, Hazmat Operations.

 

There has been one change of the board and two of the current members have exceeded the meeting absences allowed and should be required to resign. Kurek’s letter follows.

Garden City District Fire Chief Dan Kurek: Resignation Letter

To the Garden City Fire District Board and Constituents:

I have enjoyed working for and with the residents of the Fire District for the past 5 plus years and I feel that the Fire Department has grown and improved tremendously. I have also enjoyed working with the volunteers during this time. We have some of the best trained, and equipped firefighters in the county!

The first 3 years were the most productive years with a fire board that worked very well together and with me. The past few years have not been as productive with a very dysfunctional board and one that does not see eye to eye with me on many issues. I feel that part of the problem with the board has been, the  lack of presence at the board meetings for some board members. Three board members combined have not been present at 53% of the meetings which does not help to make educated decisions on the boards part for the constituents. And we have to remember that is why we are here, to do what is best for the constituents as a whole, and not carry our own agendas or the agendas of the few.

 When emails are sent between board members and the secretary and some board members are left out of the loop and the Fire chief is left out also, we have a problem. If it is going between board members then it is most likely a fire department issue and even thought the Fire Chief is not a board member, he is in charge of the Fire Department and needs to be kept in the loop on all matters.

The reason I have firefighters wanting to get on the board is because they are very discouraged with the way the present board has been performing.  From my point of view there is nothing more discouraging then losing a good, highly trained fire fighter to a board position and this is not good for the constituents either. Remember that it is their tax dollars that have trained and equipped these firefighters.

I have tried in every way possible to give the constituents of the district their best value for their tax dollar. I have tried to keep costs down and spending at a minimum. In the past 5 years we have paid off the fire station ($200,000.00) even though the impact fees were not there to make these payments. I cut corners where I could to make the payments. I also have brought in over $100,000.00 in grants to purchase much needed equipment. For the most part, the feedback I receive from the constituents is very positive.

I have a couple of very attractive offers at this time in my career and feel as though I would not be doing my family justice if I did not pursue these offers. If the Garden City Fire District would like to entertain a counter offer that could match either of my present offers I would consider their offer. If the Garden City Fire District chooses not to make an offer then they can consider this my letter of resignation. If the latter is the outcome of this letter, then my final day of employment will be the 18th of October 2013.

                                                                                                                                                                Sincerely:  Dan L. Kurek

Chuck Stocking Announces For Garden City Council

Chuck Stocking would like to announce his candidacy for Garden City Town Council.

 

He currently resides at 649 S. Maple Dr. in Garden City and is Married to Ginger Rasmussen from Grace, Id.  They have 4 children - Zailey, Zenick, Zaxton, and Zoe.

Chuck grew up in North Salt Lake and went to Woods Cross High School. He moved to Garden City in 2007. He now owns and operates both Bear Lake Cabin Rentals and Bear Lake Computers. His Grandpa (LeRoy Hirschi) homesteaded land in St. Charles area. That is where his mother (Donna) was born and raised. They still have a family cabin there.

Chuck says, "Growing up we would come to Bear Lake often. I always enjoyed it here and that is what made me want to come back to the area. When we moved here my wife and I were not quite sure what we were going to do for work. We just knew that we wanted to live here and that we were supposed to be here and things would work out. Soon after moving here we started Bear Lake Cabin Rentals and Property Management, Inc.

 

We built a couple of cabins and started renting them along with two of my cousin's cabins. Every year we took on more and more properties and eventually grew it to where it is now at about 40 properties plus managing the 20 rooms at the Lodge Motel.

 

Before moving to Bear Lake I worked in Logan at Computer Wise as a Sales Manager and Repair Technician. About a year after being here I started to miss computer repair so I started Bear Lake Computers as a "hobby". Now it seems that it is more of a full time job, but I love it. I am running for Town Council because as a business owner in the area I want to see the area grow and see that jobs are available for those in the area wishing to make a decent living.

 

I would consider myself a Conservative Libertarian. I believe very much in limited government and personal property rights."

You can contact me by phone, text or email if you have any questions for me regarding your views or potential needs of the City. My email address is chuck@bearlakecomputers.com or I can be reached on his cell at 435-760-2327

New Art Gallery in Paris! (Idaho)

Hermitage Art Gallery at 6 South Main
Paris, Idaho

A new eccletic gallery featuring, landscapes, colorful designs, stained glass
edgy art and sculpture has opened across from the famous, historic Paris Tabernacle.
 

There is also a section of Western Art.
Victoria Valentine represents several artists from Utah and the West Coast
with prices that are reflective of our area even though they may cost thousands
in California Galleries.
All Photos by Lauriann Wakefield

 

Victoria Valentine, her husband and their seven children began the project of restoring the 1890 bank building across from the historic Paris Tabernacle, seventeen years ago.  A few years ago her husband died while watching the July 4th parade at Paris.  Victoria continued on and has created a wonderful sense of place.  The ice cream store and gallery are finished and on the second floor is a living quarter suitable for family reunions  Victoria is fun and full of ideas for art in the Bear Lake Valley.  She is looking for local artists to display at the gallery. 

 

The Hermitage Art Gallery will be open Fridays and Satudays during the winter.  For hours you can call 801 362 9360  or e-mail at valentinehermitage@gmail.com.