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Saturday, September 5, 2020

The Fearless Foodie

By Scott Heiner

Mush!


I grew up in Morgan, Utah, a small farming community.  We were simple folk eating simple foods, basic country fare.

Every day, as a kid, for breakfast, the main dish was mush, AKA cracked-wheat hot cereal.  Every morning, without fail it was mush, accompanied by fruit and eggs.  Occasionally we’d have oatmeal instead of cracked wheat, but it was another kind of mush just the same.  I ate mush, mush and more mush.  A few times a year, we’d get a real treat by having Corn Flakes, Shredded Wheat or Rice Krispies, but that was a rare occasion.  Usually, it was mush!

When I was called on a mission to Japan, I thought I’d have a change of breakfast fare.  But guess what?  My mission president, a native Japanese man, had somehow discovered a new miracle food for breakfast that would greatly enhance our health and success.  He insisted that we all eat “mugi,” which was cracked wheat hot cereal!  I don’t know how he got that passion, but we all ate it.  Mush!

Japanese grocery stores don’t sell cracked wheat so we got it at farm feed outlets, sold as chicken feed.  The employees wondered why we strange American missionaries would keep chickens, but were astonished to learn that we don’t feed it to chickens; we cook and eat it ourselves!  The down side is that we would often find tiny little rocks in our mugi--or mush!

Sometime later, as a church youth leader, I went on a Pioneer Trek.  This is a 5-day experience in which the participants don pioneer clothes and reenact the trek of the early Mormon handcart pioneers.  It was a very physically challenging ordeal and we all got mighty hungry.  Guess what we ate each morning--oatmeal, cornmeal, or wheat mush!  After taking a taste, a lot of the kids refused to eat theirs so I happily accepted their mush.

On business trips to the Southeast U.S., I discovered grits which is standard breakfast fare with eggs and ham.  They don’t serve it in a bowl with sugar or milk but simply as a glob of grits on your plate topped with a pat of butter--but it’s still basically mush.

With all these mush experiences, as I grew older and wiser, I realized I actually like mush.  I recently discovered Scottish steel-cut oats which makes a very creamy oatmeal, with little grains of oats with a bite.  Good stuff--mush.

Now I like to experiment with combinations of different kinds of grains to make a mush with a little different character.  I’ll use cracked wheat, oatmeal, cornmeal or even rice to make something new.  There are endless possible variations of mush.

Then there is polenta.  Originating in Italy, polenta may be served as a hot porridge, or it may be allowed to cool and solidify into a loaf that can be baked, fried, or grilled.  Now usually made with cornmeal, polenta can also be made from farro, chestnut flour, millet, spelt and chickpeas.  Now I enjoy slicing up my congealed mush and frying them up into little patties.  I want to go further into this polenta thing, but it’s fundamentally all mush.

Arctic dog sled teams are urged on with the sharp cry of “Mush.”  Do you suppose the prospect of getting a bowl of mush at the end of the trip is what motivates the dogs to run so enthusiastically?

Mush!



Milky Way at the Lake

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer

County Commission Notes

RANDOLPH, Utah. August 5, 2020.  Jenny Johnson,  Rich County Business Administrator for Rich School District met with the Commission and presented a funding request for the School District. The School District requested Cares Act Money for COVID 19 help the County had received. The amount of funding needed for the students and staff to return to school safely was discussed. A motion was made by Norm Weston to tender to Rich County School District the amount requested for the staff and students to return to school. The amount requested is $55,460.57. Sim Weston seconded the motion and unanimously passed.

Brian Carver, Bear River Association of Government, met with the Commission and presented a Bear Lake Economic Impact Study. The study gives numbers on tourism, real estate, water management and activities.

Kayla Cornwall with Ulrich and Associates, met with the Commission to discuss the 2019 audit. The Clean Opinion was read. Individual items and the budget were discussed. Norm Weston made a motion to accept the 2019 Audit as presented. Sim Weston seconded the motion and unanimously approved.

Wallace Schulthess with Woodruff Irrigation and Zan Murray area manager with J-U-B Engineers met with the Commission to give an update on the Woodruff Irrigation project. Zan stated he is working with the irrigation company to enlarge the reservoir. The amount of the project will be $32 million.  They are requesting the County be a cosponsor to the project.   Murray will be submitting a letter for the Commission to sign concerning acting as a cosponsor. It will be addressed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Commission will review the letter and have the County Attorney review.

Carolee Ryan President of the Rich Barrel Club, Cally Levitt Vice President and Candy Cornia member were present and discussed the use of the County arena. Their request was to waive the arena charge for the Barrel Club because they are nonprofit.

Announcement from the Moldenhauers:

"Since the rumors are out there we might as well make it official. YES, we are building a new Mikes Market that will be 22,000 sf. and we are building a new Dans Ace Hardware that will be 18,500 sf. We are starting this fall and will be open by MAY, 2021. Also included will be a bank, Beans and Brew coffee shop, sporting goods (including guns), marine supplies, gift shop, deli, bakery, in store dining, and fuel island that will fit twelve towing vehicles."


Addition of Center Turn Lane at 300 West Project


The detour has been temporarily removed and will be put back in place on Tuesday, September 8.
Crews will not be working over the Labor Day holiday weekend, starting Friday afternoon, September 4 through Monday, September 7.

Project Detour

A detour will be in place through mid-September for southbound traffic through the project area (approximately 300 West to Sunrise Drive).
Southbound traffic will be diverted south along 300 West and back to US-89 via 200 North.
Logan Canyon can be accessed by continuing south on 300 West until intercepting US-89.
Access to businesses and residential properties will be maintained throughout construction.
There will be no impact to northbound traffic on US-89. *The detour has been temporarily lifted for this week only and will be back in place Tuesday, September 8.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of September.
*Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.

Friday, September 4, 2020

Truck Escape Ramp Project

Crews have finished pouring concrete for the truck escape ramp walls and will begin
paving next week.

Crews will not be working over the Labor Day holiday weekend, starting Friday afternoon, September 4 through Monday, September 7.
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, traffic will be reduced to one lane for approximately seven days, with flaggers controlling traffic during the day, while crews complete paving and striping. Please be alert to workers and equipment in the work zone.
This project is anticipated to be completed by the end of September.
*Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.

Dogs on the Lake

Photo by Scott Willams

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

RSVP


Empty Nester Time Change

September Public Meeting the Candidates
Everyone Invited

Due to unexpected conflicts the September 7th meeting is cancelled 
and changed to October 5

In an attempt to hear from the two State representatives elected to run for the District 25 Senate seat in November, there has been some unexpected conflicts.  Therefore, the meeting on Labor Day has been cancelled and rescheduled for Oct 5 at 6:00 PM.  Because we hope more people will attend the meeting will be held at Heritage Park located on 3rd West. 

The speakers will be Chris Wilson for the Republican Party and Nancy Huntly for the Democrat Party.  They will tell us what they would bring to the office if elected in November.  There will be a Q&A after they speak so have some questions to ask.

Bring your own chairs and food so we can follow the social distancing requirement.

See you there
Randall Knight

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Cisco’s Sonar

By Bryce Nielson


Summer is Over, or Is It?

It is hard for me to believe that we are starting into September.  This time last year visitors were headed back home to school and jobs.  The locals were finally going to experience the fall colors, weather and the dwindling crowds.  That idyllic scene seems to be gone.


The beginning of the new decade has changed all that.  Discussions could rage on for days debating what has happened to our country and the world.  All I can say is the whole situation is so complex with so much conflicting data, I don’t know for sure what I think.  I do know that it will never be the same again.  At this point we all need to focus on the future of Bear Lake.

The lake itself is extremely resilient.  It has not gone through the many cycles it has for the last 200,000 years and not been able to survive today without being able to withstand change.  The humans will have to be like the lake and adapt to this new set or circumstances.  

Despite everything that has gone on, I know that countless people and families have come to the Lake and had a wonderful, time.  Right or wrong, it was an escape from government from lording over your every move.  Seasonal homes were refuge from the city’s lockdowns and restrictions.  Folks loved the scenic views, way of life and being able work remotely.  Your actions were justified by knowing that Covid 19 case were low in Rich County.  It didn’t matter that there was only 2300 residents in the county and no testing stations.  You could get by without wearing a mask and feeling shamed.  People could get together with friends and act like everything was almost normal.  Everyone loves Bear Lake.  Many of the visitors will not leave after Labor Day.  As long as the weather is good or bad, they will continue to come to the Lake.

I think there are some issues that need to be addressed.  Parking along the highway has to be dealt with.  It is amazing that no one was killed on the highway this summer.  As the trucks run through the intersection, I doubt the truck catcher will stop that problem.  I am not sure what they can do other then limit vehicle size in the canyon.  We need to support Garden City and the BLSSD (sewer) in planning and building more infrastructure for future growth.  The businesses in Town need to address overparking issues to keep the roadways clear.  I will say that the beach use has been good with little trash left on the shores of Bear Lake.  We need to dust off and look at the “Envision Bear Lake” document and assess where we are going.

The future is coming to Bear Lake and it can be positive if we prepare for it physically and mentally.  All I can say is it has been comforting to have the big, blue lake to give us peace during these uncertain times.




Dog Days of Summer

Photo by Laurianne Wakefield, Little Starling Photography

Labor Day Weekend fireworks

Firefly Powerbikes and The Town of Garden City are hosting this awesome event! You won’t want to miss it! 

Starting with Royal Bliss concert at Heritage Park from 6PM to 8PM. Then a Firework show, Games, Music, and Giveaways at Ideal Beach Resort from 8:30PM to 10:30PM! All free!


Make sure you bring your friends and families. Also don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the evening. We can’t wait to see you all for our end of the summer event! Call 877-4GO-Bike or 877-446-2453 for

more information.

Empty Nesters


The Garden City Empty Nesters will host a public meeting on September 7, at the Garden City Park located at 390 S Bear Lake Blvd from 6:00 – 8:30 PM.  This meeting is OPEN to Rich County residents so Please RSVP Randall Knight at mumknight374@gmail.com if you plan on attending, so he will have an idea of how many plan to show up.

The speakers will be Chris Wilson, he is the Republican Senator candidate for District 25 after winning the primary race against Lyle Hillyard and Nancy Huntley the Democratic Senator candidate who has an impressive record as a professor at Utah State University.  They will share thier ideas for what tthey will do with the office November.  They will also answer any questions you ask.

Bring your own food if you want to eat before or during the meeting.  Also, bring your own chairs so we can spread out to adhere to the 6ft social distance.

See you there,
Randall Knight

Bryan Stringham invents a marble racer

By Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

Bryan Stringham son of Mark and Kathy Stringham has always been a favorite son of Garden City. He is now working on a Ph.D in Engineering at BYU and has come up with a fun product that boggles the mind. Literally.

I've been trying to figure out what on earth this spidery, weird thing was sort of absent- mindedly.  So I went to their web page (Website: www.magtrax.co) and it looks like interesting fun and it doesn't take up floor space.

It's a marble racer... you buy tracks in several different configurations and with a putty that does not damage walls you put metal plates on the wall, build a track and then race your marbles. Or you can use them as magnets on a refrigerator without the putty. Every child or adult can now make a Rube Goldberg machine on their own.

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDpybOel47Y to see how it works.

Bryan Stringham said. “One of the challenges I’ve seen for myself and friends from this pandemic we’re in is that it’s much harder to get out and do things and too easy to just waste a bunch of time in front of our screens, whether they be phones, tablets, or TVs. 

My hope is that MagTrax will provide one fun way to curb reliance on screens for entertainment and do it in a way that encourages creativity while also being exciting as kids and even adults create a track that works and looks awesome. "

"Some people might think that saying it’s for adults as well as kids is just a marketing ploy, but to them I would say, ‘I dare you to try it.’ It is incredibly satisfying and a little addictive to build a crazy cool track, and you really have to work hard not to find yourself taking over from the kids as you’re building a track together.”

Because it is considered a STEM toy, it can be eligible for use with COVID 19 educational funding .



Instagram handle: @Mag.Trax

Women's Self Defense Class

If anyone has any questions contact 
Randi Hirschi  
at (435) 881-9649