Eighteen Wheeler Philosophy

Random thoughts of a Bucket Ass Truck Driver.

by Mel Hansen

“I have to figure out what I want in life.  Whether to be happy, or to be right!”

The above quote comes from a book of crime fiction I’m currently listening to. 

I try to learn something from everything I listen/read, be it factual or fiction. This little saying from the book really caught my attention...so much so that I turned off the book and thought about it for the biggest part of the afternoon.

Here’s what I’ve come up with...left alone with my own thought process. 

I guess some people find happiness in being right, or in being “perceived” by others to be so, by sharing/showing them their “perceived” intellect. I think we all, at times, like to think/know we are right and everyone else should bow to our intelligence/opinions, especially since “we” are the “only ones” with sense/education enough to “Thoroughly” research the subject being discussed at the time. A highly educated person in a professional career can, and is, disputed by another highly educated person in the same career all the time. For me, being “right” in the human scheme of things is largely a matter of opinion/belief. It’s the same as someone being labeled beautiful, it’s all in the mind/eye of the individual/beholder.

I’m not slamming education. It’s extremely important! Are we seeking knowledge to be “right” and praise of others to fuel egos?  Or are we seeking knowledge in the pursuit of personal “happiness” and sharing it with others, so they too can find happiness in learning.

I know I’m going to try harder to spend more time in finding happiness...rather than spending time in being perceived as being right.

Garden City Library Fundraiser

 

Morning on the Lake

 

Photo by Dawn Brady

COVID-19 ALERT!

November 5, 2020

The health department is extremely concerned about the rapid increase and spread of COVID-19 in our community. Our growing number of infected individuals is placing an undue burden on our hospitals and healthcare system.

We are also concerned about the growing number of events being planned in our community that do not follow the COVID-19 requirements for our high transmission area. We plead with event planners and venue owners to ensure the requirements of the state’s public health order are followed and not dismissed once the event begins. Events should only occur if masks are worn, physical distancing between household groups is maintained, and the Event Management Template (provided by the state) is completed and followed. If these items cannot be followed the event should not take place.

As a health department, our resources are spread very thin as we investigate disease and perform contact tracing. We ask the individuals in our community to take personal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19. Stay home and away from other people if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, practice physical distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and do not participate in activities that make it difficult to follow this guidance.

Rich County School District Board meeting

Kathie B. Anderson, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah. October 20, 2020. A regular meeting of the Rich County School District Board of Education (the “School Board”) was held on October 20, 2020.  Among other actions and discussions: 

The School Board unanimously ratified and approved the Teacher Leave Policy (605.4) related to Covid 19.  The Policy can be found online at richschool.org.  The School Board also unanimously ratified and approved new attendance policies that reflect protocols that are unique to Covid-19.  A new, amended winter sports schedule was also adopted by the School Board. 

Thanks to a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), starting September 16, 2020, until the end of the current school year, the School District’s Nutrition Services Department is offering free meals (breakfast and lunch) to all students.  The free meals program will not extend into the summer. Thanks were expressed to Peggy Seller for applying for and getting the USDA free meals grant for the School District.   

A building update was provided.  The work is on schedule.  A few “punch list” repairs still need to be addressed.  Sod won’t be laid until next year, which will allow the earth to settle and enable the work to be accomplished during better weather.  Subcontractors will be paid in full when all issues have been resolved and needed repairs are complete.  It was noted that a very small area of the gym floor must be replaced because of a warping issue and some discoloration of the wood.  The building projects remain under budget and the cost is not expected to exceed funding provided by School District issued bonds. 

There was a lengthy discussion concerning the use of the new gymnasium.  The discussion centered on security issues, particularly respecting access from the gym into the entire school building; cleaning costs; the supervision of children who aren’t part of an organized team; proper equipment use, particularly the use of shoes that won’t mar or scuff the new wood floor; facemask and social distancing mandates and requirements; and the pros and cons of allowing “Little League” usage of the gym.  At the present time, due to Covid-19, the gym isn’t being scheduled for little league use.  The School Board plans to have a later discussion to address these concerns, particularly the use of the gym for little league activities. 

The date and time of the November, 2020 School Board meeting will be announced later.