The Eighteen Wheeler Philosopher

Miracle

By Mel Hanson, The Eighteen Wheeler Philosopher

What many take for granted every day, some took, prayed for, and saw every day!  A miracle.

Talking with my Dad the other morning, I told him about the book I've been listening to.  It is about Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Dad's commanding general in the Pacific Theater during WWII.

The only slightly negative comment I've heard my Dad say about MacArthur was in relation to his comment to the Philippines: "I shall return." My Dad was one of the very first to hit the beach on Luzon in the retaking of the Philippines. "I was there getting my $&@ constantly shot at two weeks before he waded ashore!" he'd say. Dad is now 92+ yrs old and has a harder time with the everyday happenings of life, but he'd take anyone to task if they bad mouthed his General!

During our conversation, he started to tell me again about his best friend, John Scott (Chillicothe, Ohio, died 4-5 years ago.) 

Scotty, as Dad always refers to him, as both of them were Sergeants of 30 cal machine gun squads that served side by side with each other.  Scotty always claimed to be an Atheist and chided my Dad about his faith, and belief in God until the first time they came under intense Japanese machine gun and mortar fire while sharing a foxhole, during which Dad looked over and saw ol Scotty on his knees, hands clasped together and praying as loud and fast as he could!

Dad said,"From that second on and throughout the rest of the war and his life Scotty believed in God and wasn't ashamed to be seen or heard praying!"

I asked my Dad, “Did you pray Dad?”

"As much as I could during the day while getting shot at and during the evening while trying to fight off Banzai attacks!"

I asked again, "What did you pray for Dad?"

He was silent for 10-15 seconds, I've never asked my Dad if he prayed during the war before and began to wonder if I had overstepped my bounds,but he held my gaze, then he said to me in a quiet, reverent tone, "Well my son I'll tell ya! At first, I prayed for the usual things, like the way and for the things you grow up praying for as a young kid.  I soon found out there simply wasn't enough time for drawn-out prayers, and because of the things that I'd seen, and did, to save my men's lives along with my own at times I even wondered if maybe ol Scotty was right about there being no God. But my Mother raised me right. I knew/know there is a God.”

“My constant prayer was very simple and short! I asked God for just one more miracle!, one more day for all my men and myself and thanked Him for getting us through the day and night we just had because it truly was a miracle we made it!"

I'm thankful that the Lord heard, and answered, my Hero's simple prayer for just one more day at a time! 

Coral Clouds

Photo by Jim Stone, Garden City

School Security Officer?

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  June 6, 2018.  The Rich County School Board met with  Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacy, to discuss having a resource officer in each of schools.  Stacy thinks that he can hire one and see if it works to improve security.  If the school could pay for the winter salary then they could use sovereign lands money for summer. Stacy think s it will cost $77,000 – 80,000  in terms of salary and benefit and training and uniforms and equipment.  They want the officer at the school when the kids are coming to school and when they are leaving

Stacy said that it is very hard to hire law enforcement now.  Without the pension and retirement benefits that the legislature took away law enforcement agencies are now having a terrible times getting applicants.

 

There are also other safety concerns, they need someone who is good with children and has been vetted as to their character.  Commissioner Bill Cox said that it will be very hard to find even one officer, and it must be a person of trust.

Stacy said he had talked to three Cache County deputies and was told they wouldn’t drive over for the summer wages that they had been paid in the past.  He thinks that for  $16.50 an hour he can get someone, but last year they were not able to hire anyone.  The summer funding will come from Sovereign Lands. They will have to hire someone who is post certified. It is a seasonal job so it needs to be a part-time job for someone who has another job, and very few people want to come so far for a seasonal job. 

Stacy said he needs to work out logistics for the county and school sharing a resource officer.

County Commission Meeting

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  June 6, 2018.  Jack Walkenhurst, All West Services, told County Commissioners that they have fiber out of Evanston into Rich County and into  Kemmerer, Rock Springs, and Green River, looped out of Garden City.  They do not service Garden City but carry out traffic through Garden city.  Prices are falling even though the initial investment is high.  There is fiber in Randolph but not in Woodruff.

Bart Argyle, Board Member, Three Creek, said that they would like to hook into well water near the county dump to water cattle.  They need a water line to a tank. That pasture holds cows for about three weeks.  With the rotation system now required, it will be used in different months.  The Commissioners told Argyle to talk to Lynn Weston, Sanitation Department for permission.   They also need to check with BLM before they can authorize it.  The water is currently being used by the Sanitation Department to wash trucks and they need a generator to power the water into the lines.  

The county is thinking that a solar powered pump would be more economical than the existing one.

Pam Cornia, Rich County Barrel Club, introduced  Bruce Dickimore, Arenablend.  Cornia said that the arena needs to have the floor fixed.  Arenablend conserves water, traps water and uses it more effectively.  It uses half the water and yet creates a good riding service.  Dickimore recommends a more sandy surface because the hardpan is very slippery.  Fractured sand is cheap but is ideal for rodeo use.  He recommends  1 ¼” more Arenablend be laid down. 

  

Commissioners suggested that Dickimore train the maintenance people on how to most efficiently use it.

Dale Wilson, Rich County Roads, sought approval for slurry seal.  He plans to spend about $175,000 which would also do the Sweetwater Trailer Park.  There is $180,000 budgeted for this purpose. They will do several roads in the county and several in Sweetwater.  The request was approved.  Morgan Pavement will do the seals.

Property Tax Relief

Rich County Treasurer

20 S Main, PO Box 186

Randolph, UT 84064

LouJean M Argyle

435-793-5155

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT

IF YOU WILL BE AGE 65 OR OLDER ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2018 OR IF YOU ARE A WIDOW OR WIDOWER AND HAVE NOT REMARRIED, A DISABLED VETERAN OR ACTIVE DUTY ARMED FORCES, YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT.

TO RECEIVE A DISCOUNT ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, YOU MUST FILL OUT A PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATION. THESE APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE RICH COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE.

INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED ON THE APPLICATION INCLUDES HOUSEHOLD INCOME, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AGE, NAME, ETC.

AN APPLICANT'S HOUSEHOLD INCOME MUST BE LESS THAN $32,101. FOR DISABLED VETERANS OR ACTIVE DUTY REQUIRES INFORMATION ON YOUR SERVICE AND/OR DISABILITY.

ONLY PROPERTY TAX ON A PRIMARY RESIDENCE IS ELIGIBLE FOR A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU WOULD LIKE AN APPLICATION, YOU MAY CONTACT THE RICH COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE. PHONE NUMBER 435-793-5155

Forms are also available at  www.tax.utah.gov /forms-pubs/ 

Primary Election

ELECTION

June 26, 2018

Public Logic and Accuracy (L&A) is scheduled for June 11 at 2:00 in the Rich County Courthouse for any interested person to observe a demonstration of L&A. The purpose for L&A is the testing of the Election System.

Ballots are scheduled to go out June 5, 2018. Ballots must be postmarked no later than the day before the election or delivered to the Rich County Courthouse in the County Clerk's Office by Election Day.  There will be a secure drop box available in Garden City outside the Town Office.

Early Voting will be available in the County Clerk's Office beginning June 19-22 and will be open from 9:15-4:30. In order to be eligible to participate in early voting, voters must be registered to vote by June 11, 2018.

MUST HAVE VALID ID WITH YOU TO EARLY VOTE!!

County Commission Issues

Bobbie Bicknell  Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  June 6, 2018.  Jack Walkenhurst,  All West Services, told County Commissioners that they have fiber out of Evanston into Rich County and into Kemmerer, Rock Springs, and Green River, looped out of Garden City.  They do not service Garden City but carry out traffic through Garden city.  Prices are falling even though the initial investment is high.  There is fiber in Randolph but not in Woodruff.

Bart Argyle, Board Member, Three Creek Water, said that they would like to hook into well water near the county dump to water cattle.  They need a water line to a tank. That pasture holds cows for about three weeks.  With the rotation system now required, it will be used in different months.  The Commissioners told Argyle to talk to Lynn Weston, Sanitation Department for permission.   They also need to check with BLM before they can authorize it.  The water is currently being used by the Sanitation Department to wash trucks and they need a generator to power the water into the lines.  The county is thinking that a solar powered pump would be more economical than the existing one.

Pam Cornia, Rich County Barrel Club, introduced  Bruce Dickimore, Arenablend.  Cornia said that the arena needs to have the floor fixed.  Arenablend conserves water, traps water and uses it more effectively.  It uses half the water and yet creates a good riding service.  Dickimore recommends a more sandy surface because the hardpan is very slippery.  Fractured sand is cheap but is ideal for rodeo use.  He recommends  1 ¼” more Arenablend be laid down.   

Commissioners suggested that Dikimore train the maintenance people on how to most efficiently use it.

Dale Wilson, Rich County Roads, sought approval for slurry seal.  He plans to spend about $175,000 which would also do the Sweetwater Trailer Park.  There is $180,000 budgeted for this purpose. They will do several roads in the county and several in Sweetwater.  The request was approved.  Morgan Pavement will do the sealing.

Marathons and Bike Races

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  June 6, 2018.  Jared Eborn, Extra Mile Racing, Special Events Coordinator, asked for road use permission for sports events that his company brings to Rich County including the Bear Lake Marathon this weekend. On June 23, there will be a bike race and they are trying to find routes that stay off the highway.  They would like to use the Round Valley loop this year and in the future, which is a route that would start at the LDS Church in Garden city and up over to Meadowville for the half marathon.

 The half marathon will have a few hundred participants.  The full marathon has 75 people.   The marathoners need to run from Meadowville to Cottonwood Canyon after looping up through Sweetwater then to Garden City on the bike path.

The runners come from all over the United States and four countries.  Forty-three states are represented. They stay and fill up all the lodging. They also like to do marathons in Cokeville, Wyoming because there are runners who want to do all 50 states and this is an area that it is possible to run in three states in one week.