Monday, May 30, 2022
Sunday, May 29, 2022
Top Reader of 2022 at North Rich Elementary-EmmaLee Casillas
Ever since 3rd grade EmmaLee Casillas has had a goal to not only be top reader of her class but to be the top reader of the whole school. Some years she reached that goal, some years she fell short of reaching that goal, but she never gave up. She kept her goal in sight and would work towards it. I can’t even begin to count the hours that it took her to read that many words. She would read in the car when we would drive anywhere, she took a book hunting much to her Uncles dismay! “Emmi we’re here to hunt, not read a book!” She would read while preparing dinner or cooking cookies, she would read books to me out loud, she was reading every spare minute she had.
Her 5th Grade teacher, Mrs. Michelle Johnson Peterson sat down with her and discussed a goal with her last trimester. She suggested 300,000 words. Emmi suggested 1 Million, but settled for her teacher’s recommendation but told her she was going to prove her wrong. Last trimester she read 1 million and 1 words. This trimester she read over a million and one words. I don’t know what her final word count ended up being.
Today Emmi reached her goal of being Top Reader of the School and her class. She finished the year out with 4,205,884 words read from 1st Grade - 5th Grade.
Memorial Day Thoughts
Here's some ground rules for today:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not freaking Disney.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in "peace".
Carry on!
Commissioners Corner-Bill Cox
In the last four years, the road on the east side of Bear Lake, known as Cisco Road, was completed. I started planning for the funds on this project six years before construction began. It included four separate grants that I applied for and which were each awarded separately. All of these types of projects require extensive advanced planning and cost estimates, because state and federal funds are awarded up to five years before construction even begins.
This project included nine miles of total reconstruction and three miles of asphalt overlay, which widened the travel lane and now provides a walking/bike path adjacent to the road. This project greatly improves the traffic safety on this county road as well as the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists who utilize it. As our present road system continues to age, the needs continue to grow. I am always looking for additional funding opportunities for our future road and bridge projects within the county.
I would appreciate your support in the Republican Primary Election June 28th. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at (435)757-8248 or wecox2@gmail.com.
DWR Report
DWR reminds Utahns not to touch or take home baby deer or elk you find in the wild
SALT LAKE CITY — As you are out hiking and camping this summer, don’t be surprised if you come across a deer fawn or an elk calf during late May or early June. If you do see one, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources requests that you not touch, try to feed or take the baby animal home — doing so can have fatal consequences for the animal and could result in injury to you.
Deer fawns and elk calves are often born in June, which is why you may find one during your outdoor adventures in early summer. If you do happen to see one in the wild, you probably won’t see its mother. Not seeing its mother might lead you to believe that the animal has been abandoned, but that is rarely the case.
“Newborn fawns are actually alone and isolated during their first weeks of life — and that’s on purpose,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Big Game Coordinator Covy Jones said. “The mother knows that leaving the fawn alone is the best way to protect it from predators.”
Newborn big game animals fall into two categories: followers and hiders.
- Followers include bison calves and bighorn sheep lambs,
which follow their mothers shortly after they’re born.
- Hiders, such as mule deer fawns and elk calves, do the opposite — they hide, alone, for most of the day for the first two to three weeks of their lives.
During the day, a doe deer will reunite with its fawn for a short time, to nurse it and care for it. Then, to draw attention away from where the fawn is hiding, the mother will leave the fawn. The doe will spend the rest of the day feeding and resting.
Fawns are born with a creamy brown coat that’s covered with white spots. This camouflaged coat allows the fawn to blend in with its surroundings. Fawns also don’t give off much scent, so it’s difficult for predators to smell them.
Hiding is the best way for fawns to stay safe right after they are born. Then, after two or three weeks, the fawn grows strong enough to start accompanying its mother.
“Drought conditions are very hard on pregnant does and newborn fawns, in particular,” Jones said. “The lower food supply due to the drought leads to poor body condition for the adult deer, which can lead to low birth weights and decreased newborn fawn survival. Especially this year, please help the wildlife by not disturbing them.”
What to do if you see a deer fawn or an elk calf that appears to be alone:
- Don’t
approach it. Watch it or take a photo of it
from a distance, but don’t go near it. In almost every case, the young
animal has not been abandoned by its mother.
- Don’t
touch it or pet it. Finding and petting newly born
animals is a problem because the animal’s survival depends on it being
left alone. If you touch it, you may leave your scent on the animal, which
could draw predators to it.
- Give
it plenty of space. Even if you don’t touch the
fawn or calf, getting too close can cause it to run away from you,
resulting in the animal using energy it needs to survive.
- Never attempt to remove a fawn or calf from the wild or take it home. DWR conservation officers occasionally respond to instances where an individual has taken a baby deer or elk home to “care for it.” However, that often has fatal consequences for the animal and can also create public safety risks as the animal matures. It is illegal to keep wildlife in captivity and can result in a class A misdemeanor. If you believe that a baby animal is injured or sick, report it to the nearest DWR office.
“Keeping your distance and not touching wildlife are the keys to keeping young animals alive,” Jones said. “Attempting to take matters into your own hands and trying to ‘help’ wildlife usually does more harm than good. Help wildlife by allowing them to remain wild.”
For more tips about how
to safely live with wildlife, visit the Wild Aware Utah
website.
Death at the Lake
Vivien Chow - (ABC4) – Authorities are
investigating after a man’s body was found in Bear Lake on Monday.
The Rich County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man as Kyle Dean
Walker, 31.
Walker’s body was discovered in about five feet
of water. The cause of death has not been determined.
Authorities were first notified by a Bear Lake
State Parks manager about Walker’s vehicle which had been parked overnight at a
day-use campsite.
A lake employee mentioned seeing a person out in
the water wearing scuba diving gear on Sunday afternoon. But by Monday, the
man’s car was still parked at the campsite.
Deputies investigated and were able to track
down the vehicle owner’s family members. The victim’s friends and family said
they had not heard from Walker since Saturday.
Authorities dispatched a boat equipped with side
sonar to locate Walker inside the lake. A Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Dive Team assisted in the recovery of the man’s body.
Officials are still actively investigating the
fatal incident to determine the events leading up to his death.
New Rich County Extension Agent-Reganne Briggs
I
wanted to quickly introduce myself. I am the new Rich County Extension Agent. A
part of my job is providing resources to residents in Rich County that pertain
to the needs of the communities. I was told by one of the commissioners that
this would be a great group to ask for feedback on needs in the county,
especially Garden City. If you have time, please fill out the survey so I can
better understand your specific needs.
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers; Camp Ithaca report
Our
local DUP; Daughters of the Utah Pioneers; Camp Ithaca Officers would like to
thank Eldon Robinson and his group of young men for assisting with cleaning up
and getting the Meadowville Cemetery ready for this season. There are countless
names that keep this Utah Pioneer Cemetery available for everyone's visits. We
also thank Atlas Towing of Garden City for the American Flag
donation.
Our regular caretakers
Steve and Carrie Hislop are serving a mission in Nauvoo at this time. We hope
they find this post and see that we are good caretakers in their absence. Be
sure to take a drive and see for yourself what a beautiful area that was
settled and became a resting spot for those settlers.
Here are a couple of
facts about the cemetery:
In early fall of 1863,
2 wives and eleven sons of Heber C Kimball came to the valley and settled in
the Big Creek area. In 1869 about 100 families were called to
strengthen the settlements in Bear Lake. The cemetery has 35 known graves.
The last grave to be placed was that of David Heber Kimball in 1927. He was one
of the original Kimball sons to settle here and the only one to stay in
Meadowville. For more history, there is a DUP Marker with a plaque in the Cemetery.
Coming up in July is
our DUP fundraiser at the Laketown Pioneer celebration. We raise funds once a
year with a bake sale. There are delicious baked goodies that you won't want to
miss. This is a wonderful time that you can tour our DUP Museum either after or
before a great breakfast at the Chapel in Laketown.
Come and learn about
our Pioneer history, as we are the "Keepers of history" in the
Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY
Obituary-James Stephen Wilson
Our father, grandfather, brother,
neighbor, and friend died peacefully on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 10:23 a.m. He
was surrounded by love with his daughters Jill Wilson-Zahn and Jamie
Wilson-Murray by his side.
James Stephen Wilson was born
October 19, 1944, to Ada and Lemoyne Wilson of River Heights Utah. As a twin to
Judd Wilson, he had the magical twin connection. He also is a brother to Ross
Wilson, whom he shared the love and pride of having cabins at Bridgerland
Village together. He is preceded in death by his loving parents Ada and Lemoyne
Wilson, his brother Scott Wilson, and Vance Wilson. Our father lived an
adventurous life of fishing, snowmobiling , camping, rock hunting, and
gathering antlers near his home. He loved traveling to special places; Alaska,
Beaverdam, Arizona where he wintered for several years, there he loved driving
his razor around the desert. He traveled to Seattle to visit his daughter
Jill and her family, New York, and New Jersey to be with his daughter Jamie and
her family. Gatherings in Woodstock to enjoy his family and fishing the stream.
Further travel included Thailand, and Mexico with his daughter Jill.
He loved his beautiful home in
Bear Lake, built by him along with the help of his brothers and other friends in
the community. Those who knew him know he was in heaven there. He loved feeding
the birds, deer, and moose that came by to visit. He loved visiting with
friends, family, and neighbors. He was proud to share his home with anyone, he
worked hard there as evidenced by his self-taught mason skills. He made it a
welcoming and special place for anyone who entered, and this legacy continues.
He loved Christmas day at the
cabin with his daughter’s Jill Wilson-Zahn, spouse Daniel Zahn, granddaughter’s
Alina and Sofia, daughter Jamie Wilson-Murray, spouse Bryan Murray and their
daughter Claire. He lit up around his granddaughter’s and loved to hear about
their lives and create special memories together. They especially loved being on
the snowmobile with grandpa. He loved visiting his family in New Jersey,
Woodstock and Seattle filled with great adventures.
Our father was a hard-worker,
with a strong work ethic and respect for others, which he instilled in his
daughters and his granddaughter’s. He was a teamster’s truck driver for his
career and was well known around the valley for his friendly and outgoing
manner. His daughter’s Jill and Jamie want to thank everyone for the tremendous
support for their father this past year as he endured great hardship from a
massive stroke October 2021. Demonstrating courage, strength and grace, was
humbling to witness as he navigated the last 8 months of his life.
We wholeheartedly thank our
cousins Annette and her husband Roger Howell, Paula and her husband Courtney
Fisher, Mark Wilson, and brothers Ross and Judd Wilson for their continued
support, love, and care of our father, and their care for us during this
difficult time. We extend gratitude to our mother Gayle Reading Godfrey and
stepfather Bob Godfrey for their generous kindness and care to our father.
Thank you to the numerous friends and neighbors who came often to be by his
side during this challenging time. We know our father is at peace and soaring
above the mountains. As he would say, quote “Rock On.” Dad, we love you now,
always and forever.
We welcome everyone who knew and
loved our Dad to attend his graveside service on Saturday June 4th at 11:00
a.m. at the Garden City Cemetery.
Graveside services have been
arranged in coordination with White Pine Funeral Services.
In lieu of flowers we are
creating a living memorial to include trees and a park bench in our father’s
honor.
To donate: https://gofund.me/b2321a79
Newest Coaching Staff hired at Weber State Volleyball
OGDEN, Utah – On Friday afternoon, Weber State volleyball and head coach Jeremiah Larsen announced the hiring of Sammi Stuart to the Wildcat coaching staff.
"I'm excited to have the chance to work with Coach Larsen," Stuart said of her appointment to Weber State. "He's been a good friend of mine for quite some time. The opportunity to work with him and his program will be great for me. I'm looking forward to improving my volleyball IQ with him."
Stuart is coming to Ogden with an abundance of experience in the Big Sky Conference and power five levels, as well as a familiarity with volleyball in state of Utah. Most recently, Stuart was the head coach at Idaho State prior to resigning from her position on May 12, 2022. She spent three years in Pocatello at the helm of the Bengals' program.
Before taking over the head coaching position at ISU, Stuart was an assistant coach at Utah State University where she spent three years. From 2008-2014, Stuart was an assistant coach in the PAC-12 at Arizona State where her efforts were vital in taking the Sun Devils from a conference cellar dweller to a regular in the postseason. Her final three seasons in Tempe all resulted in bids to the NCAA tournament.
Stuart's volleyball coaching career got its start in Provo, Utah, where she worked as the Director of Volleyball Operations for BYU from 2006-2008. The Cougars went to the NCAA tournament on two separate occasions in that time frame, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2007.
During her time in college at Utah State, Stuart was a member of the Aggie basketball team from 2003-2005.
Regarding Stuart's hiring, Larsen noted, "Sammi is a huge asset to our volleyball program. Sammi is an elite coach and person and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our gym. I am excited for the opportunity to work with her as we continue to build a volleyball program that will compete consistently at the national level."
Stuart will fill the position that was formerly occupied by Kayla Morgan, who recently transitioned to the Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator in Weber State's athletic department.
Change in Leadership for the Paris, Idaho Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Released as Stake President-Shane Roberts
1st Counselor-Kam Jarman
2nd Counselor-Wamsley
New Stake President-Jordan Jensen
New 1st Counselor-Lawrence Asay
New 2nd Counselor-Dallas Clark
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