Eighteen Wheel Philosophy

LIFE CHANGERS!

By Mel Hansen, The Eighteen-wheeler Philosopher

(Editor note:  Last issue I called it a sixteen wheeler after Mel had

painstakingly told me the difference.  Senior moment!)

There are life alternating events in each of our lives...some are good...some not so good. I have 12 in mine. They've been so profound that I can tell you the date..the place...and give or take 5 minutes...the time.

My 12th...life altering event...occurred this past Friday, Jan. 20th. I received the top left photo first as I sat in my truck at a truck stop..in heavy fog covered, Mankato Minnesota, at 19:55 hrs. It took my breath away for a few seconds!...thought my heart was going to thump out of my chest...and I'm not ashamed to say...a few tears rolled down my cheeks!

Meet the first...of hopefully many...Grandchild for my pretty little wife and I!... Charlee Gwen Hansen. (I've nicknamed her..Gidget) To me..she's the most gorgeous little lady I've seen! I've waited for her for such a long time and she's finally arrived to two outstanding and loving parents...my pretty little daughter-in-law, Chelsey, and my firstborn, John Sherril. The picture on the right I love! Proud Dad...but getting as he said...The Look!!...I'm sure the first of a gazillion he'll get from his daughter! But the reason I love it the most...John also...is because it's the same...Look!!...my Mum would give me...and John Sherril (My Mum always called him by his first and middle name)...when she was slightly miffed at us for something.

I've yet to actually meet this little angel in person...to hold her...speak to her...kiss her...tell her that her Grandpa Hansen is her favorite person in the whole world!🙄...but because of modern technology I've received pictures, videos and FaceTime chats!

Traveling back I've had hundreds of miles of reflections!...the life Altering event of John being born! Thinking to myself that...I'm responsible now for him! A different feeling of love that occurred in me as I held him for the first time. Instant feelings of doing whatever necessary to protect and provide for him! Thanking God for him!...hoping and praying that I would be able to teach him about where he came from...why he's here on earth... and where he'll go when his time here is through...how to work!...be a good man and a contributing person to society. I fell short in some of these areas...but his Mother hasn't! She's taught our 4 children all the things they need to know! I love her!!

All those feelings I had then for John Sherril...I have for Charlee. I'm looking forward to being a fun loving Grandpa! Now that I'm...supposed to be a little more.."wise"..hopefully I'll be able to be as good at it as my Grandma Hansen was with me..as both sets of grandparents were/still are with John...in giving wisdom, encouragement...at times even..."The Look!"...when necessary....but most of all...my unconditional love and prayers! My little...Gidget...already holds my heart in her tiny little hands!

Rose Snow

Photo by Karen Slagowski Matthews

Moose Saved By Garden City Fire Rescuers and DWR

Photos by FOX 13 News

State Legislators Discuss Education Issues

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. January 18, 2017.  At the Rich School Board meeting, time was given to Representative Logan Wilde and Senator Lyle Hillyard to introduce themselves and give any information they felt would be helpful to the Board.

Representative Wilde is new to the House of Representatives.  He noted that he is looking forward to working as a representative.  He said that he is a cattle and sheep rancher and felt at home in Rich County.  Since he is new, he didn’t have a lot of information about what bills or items that have been handled in the past and what will be presented beginning this next Monday.  He desires to represent his area of responsibility and encouraged the Board to contact him if he can be of assistance to them.

Senator Lyle Hillyard has served in the State Senate for many years.  He said that he hadn’t heard any action toward building or enlarging the Bear Lake Marina.  That is an item he will be looking into during this next session.

He encouraged the County to continue to grow in economic development and tourism.  He reported that the education budget is currently at $287 million.  He said that there are no one time monies in the budget at the present time.  Generally, there are some funds available there for building capital facilities, buying computers, or other items that are needed in the schools. Currently, the budget monies are completely assigned to various schools and projects.

He noted that a great deal of the education money for Rich County comes from secondary homes.  He does not want an equalization board to re-evaluate homes in this area and change the property taxing rules.  Currently, there is not that much difference, and taxation of secondary homes is very helpful to the County.

Some believe that teacher salaries must be increased.  It is believed that teachers leave schools because they are not being paid enough.  However, that is not the case.  Teachers are generally leaving because of the difficulty of working with all of the restrictions and responsibilities that are assigned to them.  In addition, there is a lack of manners and civility that creates issues in classrooms.  Parental support is often missing.  Money may be part of the reason, but certainly not the only one.  Class size and differences in abilities among the students themselves is common and requires much greater effort on the part of the teacher to reach goals set by outside agencies.  How to approach and solve all of these issues is not something that can be quickly determined and passed through the legislature.

Early pre-kindergarten is important.  Some parents spend time with their children and help them so that they are prepared for kindergarten.  However, there are other families where the children are not being taught at all.  If a student is not reading by the third grade, they will probably drop out or be unable to complete the public education program.

Sales tax revenue is slowing.  People are changing how and what they buy.  There are so many options today using the computer.  In addition, income taxes are rising.  There is a broader base which also lowers taxes. 

The legislators said that there are three main things that are tremendously important to the future  of education:  First, reduced income taxes.  Monies are needed to keep education moving forward.  Second, charitable contributions are dropping and many more students are coming from lower income homes.  Third, interest in education in the home is becoming lower or even non existent.

Upstart is a good program.  It is very successful in homes where the parents volunteer and work with their children.  The opposite is also true.  Many young children would really benefit from this program, but fail when there is no parental assistance.

Hillyard felt that it is not a good idea to raise individual taxes.  He said it would be better to increase taxes on corporations and businesses.  Money for education is not an easy problem to solve.  Hopefully, the legislature will come up with some solutions that will move education forward.

Rich School Board Meeting

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  January 18, 2017 Scott Sabey and Peter Cornea were both given the oath of office to serve another term on the school board.  A special school board meeting was held on Tuesday, the 10^th of January.  Apparently there were some items that needed immediate attention.  Scott Tolentino was sworn into office at that time.  All members of the board are now legal members of the board. 

A new President and Vice-President from among the board members were selected.  Scott Sabey was put in as President and Eric Wamsley was chosen as the Vice-President.

Last month, Policy 312, dealing with how long students who are hurt are ill can be out of school until other options for education must be found, was passed.  It was noted that the Board felt that three months was a long enough time period for the student to be out of school.  At that point parents and medical personnel need to be called to a meeting to ask about other options.  It was suggested that instead of just saying medical personnel be present, that it read that medical input be requested.  With that change, the board ratified Policy 312.

The snow day last week will need to be made-up.  It was suggested that this make-up be set on Thursday, March 2, 2017. 

Policy 700 was on the agenda for review.  However, it was decided that the board members would read and work on this policy during the next month and then share suggestions and changes at the February meeting.

USBA will be holding a workshop for new presidents and vice-presidents in February.  Both Sabey and Wamsley agreed to attend that meeting.

UHSAA has filed a complaint with the State School Board.  Allowing athletics to transfer to any school they desire is being challenged.  A special meeting with the State Board will be held tomorrow to discuss this issue.  There area eight new members on the State Board, so it will be interesting to see how things are handled.

Because of the changing to athletic regions, the schools fall into six classifications.  Both regional and state tournaments will be held for both boys and girls on the same weekends.  That will allow parents to go between games depending on where their interest is.  In addition, it will save a second weekend for both the regional and state tournaments which will be most helpful and half as expensive as these activities had been in the past.

Members of the school board asked that the athletic games still be set up with out-of-state schools to create a greater challenge for our teams. 

The next school board meeting will be held on Monday, February 13, at 5 p.m.