Last Vacation Days

Photo by Janelle Anderson Orr

 

Volunteers needed

 RSVP of Cache & Rich CountiesRich County News And Events

We are looking for people 55 years and older to volunteer in Rich County helping people who care for a loved one with dementia! We work with your schedule! Volunteers will need to:

- Commit to serve at least 2 hours/week

- Provide non-medical respite for dementia caregivers. This means the volunteer would visit the person who has dementia for a little while to give the caregiver a break. Not intended to provide physical care for the person, just be there to keep them safe and feel at ease.

- Attend a training provided by our program prior to beginning volunteer work

If you are interested, please contact the director, Hannah, at (435) 760-4472!

Bear 100 Race Friday

 

Race is capped at 350 starters and registration is now closed.

The race begins at the mouth of Logan Dry Canyon, right near Logan, Utah. There are dozens of hotels within five minutes of the start. Logan is a medium-sized university city with all the amenities you need, including an outdoor/running shop. It is a two hour drive from the the Salt Lake City International Airport.

2021 Race Date/Time: September 24-25, 2021 06:00 Start Time
Entrant cap stays at ~350 runners then a wait list will be started.
We no longer offer rollovers for drops but will still offer a partial refund until 9/10/2021 at 12am

Registration starts on October 1, 2020

Race fees  $240 through 5-31-21
$260 06-1-21 through 8-31-21
$280 09-1-21 through 9-21-21

Shuttle service from finish to start is $20 per runner

Drop bag size limitation

(All aid stations expect finish line): 15 and 20 inches in length, 5 to 10 inches in width and 8 to 10 inches deep Finish line drop bag size limitation:20 inches long, 10 inches wide and 10 to 12 inches deep.

Dog limitations

Under NO Circumstances are dogs allowed at the finish area. Runners and crews ignoring this rule are subject to disqualification. Please don’t jeopardize the race using this facility and leave the dogs at home.

A Cool, Autumn Loop Through the Pines, Golden Aspen and Red Maples

100 Miles • 22, 518′ of climb • Max Elevation 9043′ • Min Elevation 4860’• Avg Elevation 7350′

Why a Friday Race?

Many runners ask why the Bear 100 begins on a Friday. There are several reasons. First, many participants and volunteers (radio operators, scout troops at the aid stations) are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”) and find it difficult to participate on a Sunday. Second, Saturday recreationists and ranchers have less of an impact when the field is spread out on Saturday morning. Finally, for those traveling from long distance, taking Thursday and Friday off is easier than taking off Friday and Monday.

Awards

All entrants will receive a beautiful t-shirt with a distinctive design. Finishers receive an engraved plaque indicating the date of the event and their finish time and place. They also receive a belt buckle reflective of their time: a Black Bear buckle for times between 30-36 hours, a Grizzly Bear buckle for times between 24-30 hours, and a Wolverine buckle for times under 24 hours. Winners, in addition to the items above, will receive large custom-engraved pine plaques documenting their accomplishment.

Garden City Fire District Board meeting

Leonard O’Reilly, Reporter

Rich Civic Times                        

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  September 1, 2021.  Randall Knight presided - All board members were present. Rich County commissioner, Jonathan Lee, attended as well.

Michael Lasswell was sworn in as a new board member.

Chief Wahlberg gave a construction update on the addition. Carpet and flooring in bathrooms upstairs and concrete to finish the approaches to the building. Also, Rescue 40, the fire and rescue boat will be receiving a new paint job on the transom. The retired rescue 40 truck is to be sold.

There was further discussion with Councilman Lee concerning various sources of revenue through county channels. It was reported that last year $105,000 was brought in and that so far this year, $103,000 was generated.

The responses for the month were:

2 - Wild fires

3 - Marina

17-Medicals

4 - Inspections

4 - False alarms

2 - Carbon Monoxide

16- Illegal fires 

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Why did Laketown, Utah on the southern shores of Bear Lake, recently pass a new laws & ordinances to stop new subdivisions and allowing homeowners to rent out rooms or buildings for Airbnb or to non-resident tourists? 

Don't they realize it's these people who will spend their money in Laketown and around Bear Lake when they are welcomed and have a place to spend the night, shower and relax comfortably?... Feels kinda like we made 1 step forward then came 2 steps back into pioneer times. 

What about the City Tree ordinance passed while Mackay Willis was the Mayor in 1992? I don't see the Town of Laketown or the Rich County School district replanting the Oak, Maple and crabapple trees uprooted and discarded when the middle school was recently expanded that were donated through grants obtained when the ditches were converted into underground pipes and thousands of Poplar trees that lined their banks died...nor do I see enforcement of the ordinance for new construction to plant trees and/or replace and maintain the existing trees planted on the streets and park. 

What ordinances mean something in Laketown and which ones don't...and the bigger question is who will benefit from restricting tourists from spending the night and their money in Laketown? The big ranchers, school faculty members, residents in other towns and landowners maybe... Is the reason for these restrictions; "We just like Laketown the way is it. Small and rural"? I bet those of us who grew up in Laketown have all have had that dream, though it’s why everyone’s kids move away, no way to make a living.

 My point is tourism is only a few months a year and cleaner that drilling for oil , logging or manufacturing. I don’t understand the exclusions. We can all trace relatives back to other countries. What if they were told stay out? We wouldn’t be here either. Exclusion isn’t the answer, working towards a higher road dream of, ‘you’re welcome to stay and then go without destroying Laketown so we can preserve it the way it was’ looks like. Then figure out what success is and a win win for all interested stakeholders, land owners or not. Thanks for reading/listening.  

The Lillywhites

Fall Moose Sighting

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer

 

Blue Water Bistro and Bakery fall hours

 

Blue Water Bistro & Bakery

We start fall hours this week!

Monday-Wednesday: Closed

Thursday- Sunday: 9am-4pm

We will be updating our menu this week also!

Moose Buns Mini Golf Tourney

  Attention BEAR LAKE AREA Businesses -

Moose Buns Mini Golf is hosting the 1st Annual Mini Golf Business Tournament September 13-15

THE Details: Enter as many 3 person teams from your business, as you would like. 2 losses eliminates your team. The tournament starts each day at 4:30 and will run until dark. Entry fee is $20 per team. Prizes and bragging rights for top 3 teams.

Deadline for team enrollment is 10 September - just respond to this post with your business & team name or stop by Moose Buns.

We have 8 teams currently signed up

4 from Conestoga Wagon Co.

2 from CVB and Pepsi

2 from Bear Bottom Equipment Rental

John Robert "Bob" Bell 1952 - 2021

Obituary

Silver wings shining in the sunlight

Roaring engines headed somewhere in flight

There taking you away and leaving us lonely

Silver wings slowly fading out of sight. 

Our beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle, John Robert “Bob” Bell took one last airplane ride as he slipped into eternity on September 6, 2021 at Davis Medical Center in Layton, Utah.

Bob was born on September 19, 1952 in Evanston, Wyoming to John Morris “Jack” Bell and JoAnn (Vernon) Bell.  He attended schools in Randolph, Utah and graduated from South Rich High School in May 1970.

He attended Weber State College in Ogden, Utah and was a member of their rodeo team riding bareback.  After a year of college, he was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Alberta Saskatchewan Mission.

Upon his return from his mission he married RaeNell McLean.  They are the parents of three children; Jamie Lynn, Shane Robert and Jessica Rae. 

They were later divorced. 

Bob worked at various jobs through his life including operating equipment at the mines.  He could run any piece of equipment there was and had the mechanical knowledge to repair pretty much anything.  He also raised mink for some time and sold with the Vernon group.  He loved to trap, hunt and fish and was an excellent marksman.  He loved to snowmobile and if you ever tried following him once you learned never to do it again. 

Bob loved flying and decided he wanted to try his hand at it.  He built two weed hoppers which he taught himself how to fly.  He then moved on to getting his pilot’s license and bought his own plane.  He loved buzzing his mom and dad’s house whenever he flew over Randolph.

He moved to Greybull, Wyoming for a time and married Victoria Hehn.  They were later divorced.  

After Bob retired, he moved back home to Randolph and he and his Dad kept each other company and looked out for each other. 

He is survived by his children; Jamie Chapman, Shane (Amanda) and Jessica (John) Herrera and six grandchildren that he adored.  He is also survived by his brothers; Vernon (Sherrie), Brian (Anelisa) and sisters; Betty Jo (Perry) Norris and Lorri (Raymond) Frandsen and many nieces & nephews.  Preceded in death by his parents; Jack and JoAnn Bell, his infant sister; Dora Lee, his paternal grandparents; Wilford and Helen Bell, his maternal grandparents; Joe and Grace Vernon and a nephew Kade Bell. 

Funeral services were  held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the Randolph LDS Ward Chapel.  There was be a viewing on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church and on Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.  Interment in the Randolph Cemetery. 

Job Opening

 

Bear Lake Special Service District

147 W Logan Road

Garden City, UT  84028

 

JOB OPENING

SYSTEM OPERATOR POSITION

The Bear Lake Special Service District, which provides sewer service on the west side and south shore of Bear Lake, announces an opening for a System Operator.  Persons interested in applying may submit a resume and/or application.  Requests are to be sent to Bear Lake Special Service District at bearlakessd@gmail.com or PO Box 220, Garden City, UT 84028 by October 14, 2021.  Eligibility requirements are that applicants must reside within 20 minutes of Garden City (also see attached).   Request for consideration will be collected and reviewed by the District’s Board.  Any questions can be directed to the District by calling 435-946-3201.

Wage Starting at $22/per hour plus Vacation, Sick days, Holidays and State Retirement.

 

RCT Columnist wins prestigious award

 Two Utah authors just won a coveted 2021 Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel. And one of those authors is one of our very own Rich County residents, John Brown. 

The Dragon Awards are a set of literary and media awards presented annually by Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia for excellence in various categories of science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels, movies, television, and games. 

Past winners have included authors such as Terry Pratchett, Brandon Sanderson, Rick Riordan, and Stephen King. 

This year, Utah authors Larry Correia and John Brown were awarded Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel for Gun Runner, an action adventure science fiction novel published by Baen Books. 

The seed came from Larry’s eleven-year-old son, Joe. 

When the two authors sat down to develop an idea for a workshop they were holding for a large, writer’s conference in Provo a number of years ago, Brown reports that Joe was listening in on the stairs. 

The two authors settled on a genre, and then Correia asked, “Hey Joe, what’s cool?” 

Joe immediately popped up and said, “Giant robots, bandits, and murderers.” 

Brown says, “We looked at each other and said, ‘Dang, that IS cool.’” 

Forty minutes later they had the key elements they needed for the story they’d use in the workshop. A number of years later, Baen Books wanted a collaboration from Correia, and that story was one of the first he thought of.

Brown and Correia are both frequently asked to present at writers conferences. And one of the tips each shares to new authors is to loosen up and have fun. One of the keys to writing an entertaining story is to simply ask, “What’s cool?” And go from there. 

Larry Correia’s website: https://monsterhunternation.com/

John Brown’s website: https://www.johndbrown.com/

2021 Dragon Award finalists: https://www.dragoncon.org/awards/2021-dragon-award-ballot/

 

Reflections on the Journey

Ed Note:  Leslie struggles with brain chemistry issues and is sharing her amazing journey as a wonderful wife, mother, friend and colleague.

By Leslie Scott

Where do you go to find peace? I had the sweetest set up this morning!

Ryan and Holden made us a delicious breakfast, after which I was told to go sit on the deck and soak in the sun. I had my heater going, and I just took in all the Vitamin D I could. Plus, that view 

It was quiet, except for the occasional bird chirp or turkey squabble. And I just listened, to nothing! And yet, I felt nervous....... Even in the most peaceful of situations, there was very little rest for my heart.

I'm on day 2 of new medication. The old one just wasn't cutting it. I'm scared and hopeful all at the same time. Hopeful because I've been on this medicine before and it worked! Nervous because I also know what it took away. The tiny facets of myself that made me me, tend to disappear. Patience, pure joy, and easy laughter just melt away over time. But it keeps me level, no extremes. And after months of fighting.....stability is what I need while I continue to search for answers.

My heart finds peace in the words of my church leaders. I listen to them talk every morning while I get ready for the day. For months these words have echoed in my head, and I could never find them again until today.

"I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, “Was that all that was required?” I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter, what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?"

-Linda S. Reeves

How glorious will be that day, when I can look back and say, "Was that all that was required?" When, in the grand scheme of eternity I can realize that this was such a short moment of my story. And I took it One Day At A Time with heaven closer than it seemed.

Red Skies Over The Lake

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer

 

Night skies need to be saved

 Bear Lake State Park is home to fantastic night skies which have inspired humans for millennia. Present day, our park staff and partners are protecting these night skies for future generations to enjoy and, in fact, we are applying to be certified as an International Dark Sky Park!

September is the perfect time to get outside and stargaze! The nights are getting longer, but the weather is still warm. If you cannot make it out to our park to stargaze, here is a handy guide that can assist you in stargazing from home!

Fall Fields

Photo by Dennis Hinkamp