This Day...The Lake

Photo by Laurianne Wakefield

 

Do you notice how much our lives are reckoned by the Lake?  The sunrises and sunsets are so breathtakingly beautiful that we pause to give thanks every day.  The lake goes down and we have beaches, it goes up and we have less tourists.  Our livelihood is the lake.  The deer and elk go down and up to the lake in the evening and we watch it all.  In the summer we boat, fish, swim in the cold water and water ski.  In the winter we watch every day to see if it will freeze so we can all go out on the ice and fish.  Each day the lake is a different blue, each hour a different picture as a background to our lives.  It is an amazing experience to live here.



Cisco Sonar

By Bryce Neilson,

I am tired….  I am tired of the snow on the ground….  I am tired of always having to wear a coat and long pants…. I am tired of looking out over the ice covered lake….  Most of these things are out of our control and are part of living in Bear Lake which I never get tired of.

The ice is on everyone’s mind.  First people want to know when it will freeze.  Once that happens, everyone is content until March.  Then it starts again, when will the ice go?

Many people assume that as the weather gets warm, it makes the ice soft on the top and it eventually melts.  That is true is small bodies of water but on Bear Lake things are different.  The rain and heat affect the ice surface but the water below needs to get warmer than 32 degrees.  The inflow from the Bear River and tributaries account for this impact.  This ice melts from the bottom up.  As the lake level increases it opens up a ring of water around the shoreline.  The lake then starts to get darker which means it is melting.  The wind starts pushing the huge ice mass around, it cracks and the blocks crash into each other.  More water opens up and one day, all of a sudden, it is gone.  It may push up on shore as a result of wind, but it will be bathed in a warm rain or just disappear.  I sure hope it melts before May. 

Sure signs of spring are here  The turkey vultures have returned to Randolph, calves are frolicking around, turkeys are gobbling and the deer are nibbling the "first green bite"  Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Ice Melting on the Lake by Bryce Neilson

Brite Gas Special

Dear Editor, I had spoken with you on the phone about possibly receiving your blogs by email. 

 

I was going to let you know about a special that we are running. We are giving $50.00 Worth of FREE Propane Referral Cards. Existing customers can receive this just by the new customer mentioning their name as a referral. Qualifying new accounts must have a minimum 250 gallon tank capacity and must have been filled by BriteGas in order to receive their $50.00 worth of free propane. They can call us at 800-752-8778 for more information.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks so much & have a great weekend!!

Alysia Liechty

PO Box 627

Soda Springs ID 83276

Toll Free: 1-800-752-8778

Local: 547-2555

www.ppsbritegas.com

 

April 20 Earth Day Downtown Logan

Remember, We Live On A Fault Line

The State is busy planning our Utah Shakeout exercise to be held on April 18, 2013. The day before the exercise, we, along with nearly 1 million of our closest friends, will practice Drop, Cover and Hold On in the State’s largest earthquake drill. We decided to separate these two events to allow more time for our public outreach and drill activities. 

This year’s exercise scenario begins where we concluded last year, 24 hours after a 7.0 earthquake along the Wasatch Front. The start time of the exercise will be event +24 hours. This will allow us to further our practice of mission assignments, resource allocation and information sharing. We are looking forward to testing our EOC operations and ensuring that we are able to efficiently manage the requests for resources and information. We will coordinate our efforts with FEMA and exercise how we request resources through the Action Request Form (ARF) process.  

We will also practice the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to ensure we can get people here, from other states, when we need them. 

Our State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and Division of Emergency Management (DEM) staff have been regularly attending monthly meetings and practicing our activation responsibilities. Web EOC has been upgraded and new tools allow us more coordination and better information. We have looked at the lessons learned from last year’s exercise and tried to build on those identified areas of needed improvement. Each year we learn something new and work to improve our operation. 

Kris Repp, Kevin Holman and Matt Beaudry have worked diligently on this exercise to make it very productive. Their extra efforts in making sure every detail is handled will lead us to a successful exercise.

We also have our partners, who are subject matter experts, writing injects. This will make our exercise content very realistic and our capabilities adequately tested. 

If you have any questions about the exercise, please email me at judywatanabe@utah.gov.

 

Bear Lake Water Levels Predicted

 

By Claudia Cottle,

Bear Lake Watch

 

What we didn't get, won't get and what we'll lose. Seems like there has been no good news this year.

 It's hard to fathom that such a long hard winter could leave us with such a poor water supply, but that is absolutely the case.  The snowpack in the Bear River basin sits at 71% of normal, the low level snow  is all gone, the mid level is mostly gone. Sadly, not much of the meager high level  snow in the headwaters of  Uintahs  will be making its way to Bear Lake, as the upstream, Woodruff Narrows Reservoir is very low (15%) and is in line to fill before any water would pass down the river.  The flows in the Bear River are expected to be so low that  the Stewart Dam diversion will be less than twenty percent of normal. The reality is that if you were watching closely you already saw the "peak" of the runoff from the river during the third week in March, when Rainbow Canal was at 200cfs. Even last year we got up over 600cfs for a few days in April.  It is not expected to go anywhere near that this year.   On April 1, inflow at the Causeway  was only 150 cfs. (No, this is not an April Fool's joke!)

 

The 2012 lake level ended at 5915.5 ft. Since then it has come up roughly a foot and is only expected to gain another 7 inches.   This means that 2013 will be topping off at a high of around 5917.3. As bad as that  sounds,  the increase of 1.8 feet, doesn't even make the  "Top 20 Worst" list for Bear Lake. That list is dominated by the 1990's and the early 2000's.  Hopefully the 2010's don't take over the list.

 

Where we will be by the end of the summer depends on the weather and the good practices of crop producers. It is one of the unusual years, when it's a very bad water year, but because the lake is still relatively high, the downstream irrigators will be permitted a full allocation of 245,000 af. (as per the Bear Lake Settlement Agreement ). It is also a year that they may actually need to use most of it. Most years there is enough rain and other water in the lower river system, that they do not use their full allocation. The outlook doesn't look for that. Only properly timed rain events can help.

 

Most of our downstream irrigators are committed to conservation . They know that water left in Bear Lake is like money in a savings account. So how much will actually be withdrawn depends on the weather creating the need by being hot and dry or satisfying the need with cool rain.

  

Therefore, with each foot of elevation being approximately 70,000 af, the lake could be drawn down  3 1/2 feet. But we're still not done, nature will be taking its share also through evaporation. It is estimated Bea Lake looses +/- 30 inches a year. This is also a scenario for the pumping to start early, so the lake will probably peak in early May and then start down. 2001 was a similar year but the peak was July 1st.So the good news for some and the bad news for other is that there will be more beach sooner than later.

 

Job Openings in Rich County Schools

March 25, 2013

 

Rich County School District is accepting applications

for the following positions for the 2013-2014 school year:
 

One Part-Time Special Education Aide at South Rich Elementary

 

Two Part-Time Classroom Aides at North Rich Elementary

 

Two Part-Time Special Education Aides at

Rich Middle School/North Rich Elementary

 

Must be willing to submit to a background check.

Must be willing to meet the “highly qualified” paraprofessional standards as required by the State Board Rule. Interested individuals must be 18 years old, be a high school graduate or equivalent, have the ability to communicate effectively and help others, have a valid Driver’s License, and be willing and able to transport school age children in a district-owned vehicle. Must also be able to lift 50 pounds. Applicants should have the ability to work with children, operate office machines, perform routine record keeping functions, and establish and maintain working relationships with co-workers, teachers, students, and the public.
 

Application can be found online

http://www.richschool.org/employment

 

Send application to: Rich School District

                                   
Attn: Superintendent Dale Lamborn

P O Box 67, 25 South 100 West, Randolph, Utah 84064

                                   
Phone 435-793-2135 
 

Fax 435-793-2136

                                   
Email  dlamborn@richschool.org

Kindergarten Registration Reminder

This is a second reminder of Kindergarten Registration.   Registration is April 29, 2013. If you have a preschooler who will turn five before September 1, 2013, please call NRE 946-3359 X200 to schedule an appointment to register.

The Muddled Male

By Bob Stevens,
The Muddled Male

Ann’s New Computer

             Ann, my wife, decided that she wanted a computer of her own.  Those of you who only know us in passing are probably thinking, "What's the big deal, Bob?  Lots of wives have computers.  Aren't you making a Mount Everest out of a teensy weensy mole hill?" But those of you who really know us know that this is a BIG DEAL in our family.  To misquote Neal Armstrong "This may be one small step for Ann, but it is one giant leap for the Muddled Male."  In fact, I am having to work exceptionally hard just to appear nonchalant while inside I am churning with uncontrollable glee over the opportunities I see rolling down the path before me.  

            Ann, you see, has always pooh-poohed the importance of technical gadgets as a means of making one's life complete.  I, on the other hand, have been known to sleep with my iPhone in my hand, my iPad under my pillow, my desktop cooing in the corner, and my laptop on and humming under the bed just in case I get an important call, text, or email in the middle of the night; or have an uncontrollable urge to surf, create, or type out some brilliant prose that came to me suddenly because I woke myself up snoring.  Re-reading this it suddenly strikes me that this may be the reason Ann has been sleeping on the couch instead of with me. 

            But if Ann is going “techy” there may be hope for me when the iPhone 5s or 6 comes out later this year.  Ordinarily I have to sneak down to the AT&T store to get a new phone under the cover of darkness and then try to disguise it to make Ann think that it is the same old phone I already had.  Ann’s desire to get a new computer, however, means that I can now just walk in boldly with the sun shining brightly on my bald spot and plunk down the $200 in pennies, nickels, and dimes that I have been squirreling away in my change jar for the glorious day that Apple will give me the privilege of standing in line all night just to place my name on the coveted “list for future orders” they keep on hand for Apple addicts.  In the meantime I am preparing myself to answer Ann’s always piercing question, “Why do you need a new phone?  What will the new one do that the old one won’t do just as well?” 

            Well this time I am prepared.  I will simply say that I need this new phone to retake my one-upmanship position back from Tom and Peni who each already have an iPhone 5 while I am left to fumble around with an antiquated iPhone 4s.  And besides, Ann, my wife, now has a laptop with a Windows 8 operating system with lots of bells and whistles while I am left to creep along with a 5-year old computer and Windows 7.  Life just isn’t fair.  Unless, that is, I can parlay Ann’s new computer into a brand new computer for me so that I don’t get too far behind as a result of being stuck using old technology. 

I’m afraid, however, that I just may be stuck with what I have.  Ann peeked over my shoulder as I was typing this and instead of offering sympathy, she callously said that I should just “man up” and stop whining.

 

Feds Cut Mineral Revenue To States

Utah to Lose $8.7M in Mineral Revenues: by Bonneville Research Sequester Costs Western States Millions in Mineral Revenue. The sequester will cost energy states tens of millions of dollars in mineral revenues, a move that has sparked anger - and surprise - among some state officials who say they should have been informed sooner. The U.S. Department of the Interior will shave about $110 million from monthly payments for oil, gas and coal production on federal lands, the department told 36 state treasurers in letters sent last Friday. Those cuts, amounting to about 5 percent of funds that totaled about $2.1 billion last year, will begin immediately and last at least through July. Hardest hit are Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Top 10 States Impacted by Mineral Payment Cuts (in millions of dollars) State Federal mineral lease payment 2012 Cuts in 2013 Wyoming $995.2 $53.1 New Mexico $488.2 $26 Utah $164.6 $8.7 Colorado $157.8 $8.4 California $111.6 $5.5 North Dakota $64.5 $3.2 Montana $47.3 $2.5 Nevada $26.8 $0.6 Alaska $16.6 $0.6 Louisiana $11.8 $0.35 Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Bear Lake Sunset

Photo by Darrin Smith, Logan

Quaggas at Lake Powell

March 28, 2013

Attention Bearlakers! We want to make sure you have this official announcement from Lake Powell. "Fourteen widely dispersed adult quagga mussels were found attached to moored houseboats and dock structures. The mussels were alive, but too far apart to successfully reproduce."     With spring upon us and with ice still on Bear Lake, many of you are making plans to take advantage of the early warmth of Lake Powell or other points south. Please, please, please be cognizant of the risk that your water craft could be a carrier of these invaders (and for that matter - other unknown threats).   Make sure you not only clean the exterior of your boat, but be extra diligent of DRYING EVERYTHING that has been in contact with the water. Anchors and ropes have been found to be a common carrier. Plus, perhaps the more difficult place to unknowingly carry mussels, is in bilge and ballast water. Check with your boat manufacture to determine how you can in fact evacuate all water. The configuration of some boats don't completely pump out or drain all compartments.   We are very concerned with the Mussel Intervention Plans of both Utah and Idaho and are working to bring the states together for a single cooperative plan for Bear Lake. In our view, Bear Lake is not just another reservoir, it is a natural jewel that is highly treasured and should be as such. If you have ideas, suggestions or just comments on your experiences, please pass them on to us.   Claudia & David Cottle Executive Directors Bear Lake Watch, Inc. 2629 Hwy 89 Fish Haven, Idaho 83287 801-243-8980 - Claudia 208-530-0058 - David Working to keep Bear Lake "Clean, Deep and Blue"

Becoming a Farmer or Rancher Workshop

 

Utah State University Extension and USDA co-sponsor the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Workshop Friday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the USU Eccles Conference Center on the Logan campus.

According to Kynda Curtis, USU Extension agricultural marketing specialist and conference organizer, the workshop is specially designed for students interested in a career in farming/ranching or agricultural industries; newer farmers/ranchers who currently direct market their products or plan to; next generation farmers/ranchers returning to the family farm and seeking new/alternative enterprises to enhance existing production.

This workshop is part of the Utah Building Farmers program, which provides participants a series of classes designed to help both newer and experienced farmers and food producers learn how to refine and enhance their business development, management and marketing skills to succeed in direct market outlets such as farmers markets, roadside stands, community supported agriculture ventures and restaurants.

Workshop speakers are from academia, industry, and federal agencies and will discuss topics such as business planning and resources, finances and taxes, land acquisition and leasing, direct and target marketing, marketing through web-based and social network sites, obtaining credit, federal grant and loan programs, food safety and labeling, local branding programs and good agricultural practices.

Cost for the workshop is $20 and includes lunch, break food and program materials. Workshop cost for USU students is $10. For further information, contact Curtis at kynda.curtis@usu.edu or 435-797-0444. Registration may be completed online at: http://bfrw2013.eventbrite.com.

Kynda R. Curtis, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
Department of Applied Economics
Utah State University

4835 Old Main Hill

Logan, UT 84322-4835
Phone: 435-797-0444
Fax: 435-797-0402

kynda.curtis@usu.edu

So Much Happening At The Library!

LIBRARY TREE CORNER

The Garden City Library strives to have the latest and popular books and DVD’s on its shelves. Just this week I read Jeffrey S. Savage’s murder mystery: Dark Memories.

The story takes place in the small Colorado town of Twin Falls, Colorado, in 1977, where six children on a school picnic get lost in the abandoned Seven Star Gold Mine. Only 5 are found.  Frankie was lost forever. The mine shaft was blasted shut. The children never told anyone what really happened in the mine.

Twin Falls 2011, 34 years later, Police Chief Cal Hunt is mourning the death of his wife and now has to investigate the murder of Amanda Porter then Ezra Rucker.  They were children lost in the mine. Who was killing them? Was it Frankie?  His ghost had been seen. Was it Frankie’s mother, Esther Zoeller?  Chief Hunt, haunted by the fact that he could have saved his wife, is determined to save the people who were in the mine.  Dark Memories is a quick moving story that keeps you guessing and wondering who the murderer is and who is going to be murdered next.  All are saved from the haunting memories with the fight against true evil found in that dark mine. 

A delightful children’s chapter book for 6-8 year olds is Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. The illustrations were done in gouache with bright, cheerful colors.

Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson are going to the movies with their pet pig, Mercy.  The movie is “When Pigs Fly.” Is the movie about pigs or is it a romance? At the movies they let Mercy in because she is a porcine wonder. The smell of butter is too much for Mercy and she begins eating everyone’s popcorn. The chase begins with the police officer,  Tomilello, Animal Control Officer, Francine Poulet and many others trying to catch the popcorn stealing pig.

This book is written in a rhythmic way making it an enjoyable read for young readers. It is well illustrated with Eugenia Lincoln’s grumpy face and bluish hair, Leroy Nicker’s cowboy look and with Officer Tomiello’s scowl when looking at Mercy, the troublesome pig. Of course, Mercy is illustrated as a cute, happy pig because no matter what trouble she gets in she is loved by Mr. and Mrs. Watson.

Up and Coming Events:

·         Our annual Rummage Sale will be June 21^st-22^nd. Start saving gently used items. More information will follow.

·         Our theme for our summer program is “Dig Into Reading.” Sign-ups will start May 1^st at the library. Summer Reading Program begins June 3^rd.

 

 

Garden City Fire Board Meeting Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. March 21, 2013.  There are three more class periods for the Firefighter I Class.  When it is finished, classes in Hazmat Awareness and Operations will be taught.  There are 14 out of 20 in the current class who will be taking the skills test.  Fifteen will be taking the written exam.  Eight individuals from Garden City will be taking both the written and skills tests. 

Samples and proposals for the Fire District web site have been received.  The Board decided that it would be best to have a local person keep the web site current.  It was moved and seconded to accept the bid from a local individual. 

Board members had gone over the employee contract with Chief Kurek.  There were some minor changes, but all felt it was a good contract.  A motion was made and carried to add this contract to the Policies and Procedures manual. 

According to the current Policies and Procedures, any comp time that has been earned by Chief Kurek prior to the end of three months (a quarter of the year) must be cancelled if it hasn’t been used.  Chief Kurek has been teaching the Firefighter I Class which consumes eight teaching hours each week in addition to all the preparation time.  In addition, a grant became available that would be very beneficial to the District.  Kurek put in many hours working to get a new truck, sell an old one, write the grant, and meet the deadline.  Ben Negus and Christina Gracey determined that any hours not used by Chief Kurek by the end of March should be zeroed out.  Terry Allen, Randall Knight, and Travis Hobbs felt that a month leeway should be allowed since so many hours were used so close to the end of the first quarter. 

The new 2013 UFRA grant is due April 14.  Chief Kurek asked that he request wild land gear, shelters, and possibly some more radios in the grant.  The Board agreed with this suggestion. 

The pump on truck Brush 40 needs to be replaced.  Chief Kurek requested that the pump currently on Brush 40 be repaired and placed on Tender 40, and a new pump be purchased to be placed on Brush 40.  The new pump will cost about $4,800 to do this.  The current pump to be placed on Tender 40 is a rather small pump but would work very well for parameter protection.  A new wild land pump, however, is essential.  The Board approved this suggestion.  

Brush  Truck 41 had a bad battery.  The battery was traded in for a new one, and this truck now seems to be working fine. 

CDL driver’s license is not required for tender drivers.  However, it would be to the benefit of everyone if the drivers were thus certified.  There are costs involved in getting this CDL license.  There is a $45 medical physical, $60 testing fee, $20 endorsement fee, and $75 driving test fee.  The Board felt it shouldn’t be required of all firefighters, but that the firefighters be encouraged to get this license.  The motion was made that the Fire District pay 50 percent of the license fees excepting the medical physical.  This would be for the Class A combination CDL license and tank endorsement.  The individual must pass and be in good standing in the Department.  The individuals must also remain with the department for one year after obtaining the endorsement.  The Department will do this one time only per person. 

Chief Kurek requested that three pass devices be purchased to repair equipment that aren’t working properly.  Permission was given. 

Responses this month included three business inspections, three short term rental inspections, one medical call, and one county call.

The Department needs to begin getting new radios.  It would probably be a good idea to budget for about two a year. 

The Board will hold a workshop in April to work on several policies. 

Chief Kurek was requested to stop doing short term rental inspections until he is told whether the city and district are going to have a commercial or residential inspection.  Currently, these inspections are being done for free.  A fee should be charged.  In order to charge a fee, a public hearing will need to be held.