Cisco’s Sonar

By Bryce Nielson,

This one was tough for me to write.  I think it was better when she is still alive instead of after she is gone.

Retirement of a Hunter

Don’t jump to conclusions about “Old Bryce” giving up hunting.  It is not true.  As long as I have grandsons who want to go or friends that will take and old guy along, I am ready.

I am talking about my faithful spring spaniel, Maggie.  When I picked her out of the litter 13 years ago, I had looked for a female that was not aggressive.  Previously, I had two labs and a Brittney spaniel, all of which we “over the wall” active.  I wanted to train this little liver and white spaniel to be a “duck dog”.  Most of her breed are upland game hunters, adept at pointing and flushing birds.  There are not many pheasants around Bear Lake but there are ducks.  Born in June, I worked with her and she was ready to try and retrieve by October.  She was a natural, loving the water and picking up ducks.

For the last 11 years she has only gotten better.  She would stand by the side of the Bear River below Oneida, covered in ice, and still make retrieves on the other side of the river.  Standing in the frigid water next to the blind, she would spend all day searching the skies for ducks.  I couldn’t have asked for a better dog that was a true retriever.

As the years passed, her body started to give out on her.  They say that a dog’s body ages, but in their mind, they are always young.  This was the case with Maggie.  She was already to go and hunt with a true fervor, but she paid for it with aches and pains later.  She eventually lost her hearing, probably due to guns going off around her all the time, and now she is totally deaf.  She knows what to do by my body movements but if she takes off after something, there is no calling her back.

These days she sleeps a lot but is always ready to go for a short run/walk/hunt when I go out.  I know she would still try to retrieve a bird, but I can’t risk her health by doing it.  I know her days are numbered but I prefer not to think about it.  For now, she lives in her own world, running like mad when she is asleep.  I would like to think she is dreaming about hunting and all the good times she has had.  She has ridden with me as my number one wife and companion in my truck for thousands of miles, but now she needs to be lifted in.   You will know when she dies but for now, we just have the future to enjoy.  SHE IS A GOOD DOG.

Historic Fall

Photo  by Carol Ann Dyer, "In Dyer Need of Outdoors"

State Lands Trust funding meetings

State trust lands were granted by the United States Congress to states upon entering the Union. These lands were designated to support essential public institutions, primarily public schools. State trust land managers lease and sell these lands to generate revenue for current and future designated beneficiaries.

 With funding from State Lands Trusts, the Rich Middle School will administer a STAR reading test to all students in 6-8th grades.  The tests will be administered at the beginning of the first grading period and the end of each grading period.  The first test will be the baseline and the last test in the spring will be the post test for evaluating the goal.  We will also look at the V-Port (voyager) benchmark reading data as an additional measurement. 

Each student in grades K-5 will be given a fall, winter, and spring benchmark DIBELS assessment.  The baseline data will consist of the Fall benchmark and the  final measurement utilized for growth measurement will be the spring benchmark.  Schools will also give each student in grades 1-5 a STAR reading test at the beginning and end of each marking period.  The baseline data will be comprised of the fall testing results.  These results will be compared with the last STAR test given in the spring to measure growth.

There will be public hearings:

North Rich Elementary Trust Lands Meeting – October 15 – 3:30 – NRE Lab

Rich Middle School Trust Lands Meeting – October 16 – 3:30 – RMS Lab

Public is invited.  Agendas are on the school web pages or available at the school office.

Fall At The Marina

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer, "In Dyer Need of Outdoors"

Garden City Planning Commission

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  October 2, 2019.  A public hearing was held beginning at 5 p.m.  Anyone who was interested in Ordinance #19-20 dealing with Architectural Standards could respond to this issue.  There were no comments.

The second ordinance being discussed was Ordinance #19-21 updating the ordinance dealing with the Planning Commission.  Some comments were made.

The next item was a request to re-zone an area along Kimball Lane.  There was a brief discussion concerning this matter.

There were no more comments, so the motion was made and passed to close the Public Hearing.

The regular Planning Commission Meeting was called to order.  The first item was Ordinance #19-20.  It was suggested that the word commercial be placed before architectural standards.  It was noted that many people work from their homes and perhaps it should remain as written.  After a short discussion, the motion was made and passed to change the word business to commercial everywhere it is noted in the ordinance.

Ordinance #19-21 contains information dealing with the Planning Commission Ordinance.  There were three-word changes suggested   After more discussion, it was decided to have this item brought before the Planning Commission next month.

A discussion was held concerning a re-zone application for property at 38-04-000-0038 along Kimball Lane to be re-zoned from Recreational Estates to Commercial (C2).  The request for this change was made by Alan Arthur and Norm Mecham.

Arthur would like to start building within the next 30 days and was hopeful that the matter could be handled quickly.  It was noted that the property would be split in half with Mecham taking the eastern part of the property.   Arthur would like to build on the western part of the property and wants to build two buildings that would store boats and trailers.  They had rough plans that have been drawn up showing what the two buildings would look like and how much parking was included.  A motion was made and passed to change this property from Recreational Estates to C2 for the western part of the property if the split was completed.

It was also noted that Arthur would like to put some apartments above the smaller of the two suggested buildings.  They are not for nightly rentals—they are apartments for single families who would be workers living there for various periods of time.   They noted that there were 14 parking stalls along Kimball Lane as well as plenty of parking in front of the building.  The Commission asked that they come back next month to see if it were possible to make a change in the ordinance that would allow more than one apartment on the two-story building.  The Commission also asked that they bring more information next month about the buildings that will be built.

The question was asked if the City had distinct definitions for RV Parks, Camping Areas, Over-night Cabins. etc.  The Commission was asked to come next month with definitions showing and differences between RV Parks and Camping Areas.

The motion was made and passed to close the meeting.

Randolph asks County for money for subdivision road

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. October 2, 2019.  Sim Bell, councilman for Randolph City, told  Rich County Commissioners that they did not have  any ordinances for subdivisions in Randolph because there had been so little development there. 

Then Merrill Muir decided to build the Crawford View Subdivision.  The City got the water line in and Rocky Mountain Power put in electricity.  The gas company put in gas lines.  Now the subdivision needs a road from the highway to the subdivision and Randolph does not have enough money to build it.  They would like the County to help pay for it.

Commissioner Bill Cox said that the County has done a lot of work for the City already.  If it is considered a city street then there are some revenue benefits but, he asked, “what benefit is it to the city or county when it is a private road.  You took it.”

“What will it cost to put it in?” Cox asked. 

Dale Wilson, road supervisor, said that the road will be 1500 feet long and 24 feet wide.  They have to put in pit run and crushed gravel.  Merrill Muir, the owner of the subdivision will donate as much as 300 loads of gravel.

Commissioner Sim Weston asked why it was not Muir’s responsibility to put in the connector road himself.  "Why is it the City’s responsibility and not Muirs?"

“I agree,” said Bell.  “The town agreed to put in road.  We put in water to property line.  Muir paid an impact fee.  The City should have put a moratorium on building until they had ordinances for subdivision.”

Bell went on to tell commissioners that Randolph has never billed the County for rodeo water or road water in the past which has saved the County money,  but now they are going to have to raise rates and bill for those things.  There was a lot of water leaving town without permission, so they wrote an ordinance for water use.  The water truck fills up at one place so they can meter it.  If the County helps the City would continue to donate water which has been worth about $4500 a year.

Dale Wilson estimated that the road would cost over $60,000.  Cox said that taking that much money out of the budget without forewarning is almost impossible.  Sim Weston suggested that the developer pay a good  part of this.  Commissioner Norm Weston said, “We’ll  get some numbers together and then talk  about it.”

Eighteen Wheeler Philosophy

By Mel Hansen,  The Eighteen Wheeler Philosopher

Rambling thoughts of a bucket ass truck driver.

Yesterday I was fighting Wyoming’s notorious 60+ mph wind gusts between Laramie and Rawlins.  A 100 mile stretch known as Elk Mountain.

When the actual mountain came into my view this is what I saw.

I thought it kinda neat and took pictures to show my wife. She liked them.

As I looked at them, I couldn’t help begin to relate them to meself. There are days where everything around me is mostly all clear and sunny, maybe a few clouds here and there, but yet I at times find myself like Elk Mountain, everything is fine and in clear view...but a storm cloud covers my head and shades the rest of me. Why is it that everything around me appears to be sunny and clear, whilst I’m covered and shaded?

Do I bring that storm cloud upon myself, affecting the rest of me, because I begin to think I’m taller or stronger than others, thinking I’m more knowledgeable?  Even unable to receive from others...knowledge...and yes!...even constructive criticism? And because my thought process is clouded, I can’t see how clear and beautiful it is around me until God sends 60+ mph wind gusts to clear the cloud so I can see!

It’s okay to stand tall. We all need to! Just don’t let the clouds of whatever might be, keep you from seeing and enjoying the full view. There’s so much to see.

How Beautiful Upon The Mountains

Photo by Debbie Hadlock Stahmann

Bear River Mental Health update

Bobbie Bicknell  Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. October 2, 2019. Beth Smith, Director of  Bear River Mental Health outlined this year’s mental health area plan. 

“Bear River Mental Health serves all individuals, regardless of age or ability to pay, who are experiencing a mental health crisis; including suicide ideation, panic attacks, uncontrollable behavior, or situations involving a threat to self or others. Under-insured or uninsured children, youth, and their families, individuals involved in the legal system, and all Medicaid eligible individuals, may qualify for service.

Bear River Mental Health provides services to individuals residing in Box Elder, Cache, and Rich counties.  There are convenient locations throughout Northern Utah where children, families, and adults of all ages can access quality service. More information can be found at brmh.com.”

Each year a document is prepared to set goals and directives.  It also responds to changes that happen in the legislature for the upcoming year.

 

Telehealth is becoming a good way to help rural counties.  They received a grant for Rich County Telehealth this last year.  BRMH worked with the schools and were able to provide $15,000 of services through the specially designed program which is HIPAA compliant through the Telehealth computer, and then were also granted $30,000 for a trained professional to come to Randolph, Laketown and Garden City.  The grant goes on for another year.  Smith said that they believe they can double the amount of services to Rich County this year. 

Cary Thomas is the therapist who is assigned to the schools one day a week.  Last year the legislature gave money for  more services Rich County which will be used to provide an extra half day. 

Thomas works in the Garden City after 3 p.m. so that she can work with the parents and other adults.  It has been shown that whole family therapy is needed in many cases and having a facility in Garden City makes that possible.  Students are either self-referred or the local school will refer a student. 

There is also a need for a licensed social worker for Rich County part time.   Smith said, “We’d like to get Telehealth in the jail .  We are seeing the technology work. There is a HIPAA compliant computer which protects privacy and allows the client can talk directly to the therapist.”

The problem is finding qualified people in the county for part time work.

BRMH has a social worker in the Cache County Jail to do assessments.  They have worked with pharmaceutical companies to have medication on hand so that they can start after a prescription has been given and be monitored while in jail. Sometimes that affects the prisoner so that they can move on to a case worker for job placement etc.  

Commissioner Bill Cox, said that this will help because now so many are going back to jail over and over because of mental health problems. 

For the severely mentally ill, the BRMH will wrap themselves around that person so that they are not lost, said Smith.

Stabilization and Mobilization Response (SMR) for youth in crisis is available. A master level therapist and aide will be deploy in 30 minutes which means it might be as much as two hours to get to Randolph.  In  that case, the Rich County Sheriff will try to stabilize the situation until the crisis team arrives. The previous crisis response has been to respond over the phone and then have the person in crisis go to the closest ER. 

This is not effective and is very expensive.  The BRMH want to do  a “Crisis Now” program that has been done in Arizona and is hoping there will be funding for that next year.

There were big cuts to both mental health and the health department because, the legislature expanded Medicaid funding and cut the Utah funding for these programs assuming that it would make up for their cuts.  But not as many people signed up for Medicaid because they didn’t understand the changes, so the Medicaid funding was not there.  The Bear River Health Department was forced to lay off six people.

Kris Hodges Honored

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. October 2, 2019. Kris Hodges, Laketown, was honored at the Rich County Commission meeting for thirty-four years of dedicated service and countless hours on the Laketown Ambulance .  She is retiring from service.  Hodges has been a training officer as well as an EMT, which  means she has spent more time even than the regular ambulance runs. 

Kris and Dennis Hodges

“We appreciate the service and dedication you have had to make it work,” said Commissioner Bill Cox.  “We also appreciate your husband, Dennis, for his support over those years.”

Commissioner Norm Weston added.  “We’ve been through a lot with the ambulance program.  You have affected the lives of many of the people here in the county.  Sim Weston said, “There are some EMTs who would not be there if it were not for you, including me.   Kris encouraged me to train and become an advanced EMT.”

The Colors of Fall

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer, "In Dyer Need of the Outdoors"

October Students of the Month, Rich Middle School

Academic Students of the Month

Eliza Ball, Sixth Grade

Karter Groll, Sixth Grade

Kassi Argyle, Seventh Grade

Sam Leifson, Seventh Grade

Kaysen Johnson, Eighth Grade

Hannah Scott, Eighth Grade

Citizens of the Month

Tammra Johnson, Sixth Grade

Ridge Lundgren, Sixth Grade

Colby Stokes, Seventh Grade

Emi Wirthlin, Seventh Grade

Peyton Gough, Eighth Grade

James Schulthess, Eighth Grade

Garden City Fire Department to raise taxes

Leonard O’Reilly, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah. October 2, 2019. The Garden City Fire District (GCFD) Public Hearing for a tax increase was opened at 6:00 PM. GFCD Chair Randall Knight gave a brief background on how the board came to the realization they needed to increase the tax base to purchase needed fire trucks in order to meet the current and future fire department service needs.

Because the Utah Code does NOT allow residential impact fees to purchase fire suppression vehicles a reliable source of income was needed now to upgrade the old fire trucks in the fleet.  The fire station extension is being built to provide shelter from the weather for the newer equipment like a ladder truck and engine.  The new bay was designed to store four trucks.

About 15 citizens were in attendance and a very lively conversation ensued. There was criticism of increase in taxes which was countered that the average increase was approximately $10. Others wondered if the increase was justified until they heard all that the department needs for equipment to keep abreast with the community that has grown extraordinarily in recent years and shows no sign of slowing down. Mostly newer used vehicles will be needed. After a good back and forth conversation, it was agreed that the funds were needed and the department was thanked for serving the community so well.

Also discussed was the need for having the boat. It was pointed out that besides being ready for fighting fire on boats in the marina and on the lake, it has been equipped for handling medical emergencies as well as rescues. Public questions focused on why the fire department was providing the service.  The fire chief said the coast guard and DNR do not have fire support in their job description.  So because the people using the marina and lake pay taxes the Boards have felt it is GCFD’s responsibility to provide the service to the estimated $1 million worth of boats and thousands of people on the lake.

The fire chief said four lives were saved the first day it was put in the water and eight others since that first day.

Chief Wahlberg gave a report concerning getting the construction finished. He reported that it has been difficult to get the various trades to accomplish the work needing to be done in the right order. Mayor Leonhardt offered that if siding isn’t done in three weeks, he would like to call for a “barn raising” project to finish that phase and Ken Hanson also stated that he had people that could help.

No other business was discussed other than stating the following responses:

7 - Medical calls
2 - Fire calls
1 - Carbon monoxide call

Bear Lake Comprehensive Management Plan Update

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah. September 27, 2019.   Matt Coombs of The Utah Department of Natural Resource, Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL), said they are updating the 2009 management plan for state owned sovereign lands portions of Bear Lake, especially the area in Rich County, to more reflect the changes in the area and in technology in the last ten years.  Changes in state laws and regulations need to be incorporated also. Https: //ffsl.utah.gov/

The area below the high water mark of 5923.65 feet above sea level is sovereign land.   The FFSL has to administer their lands using multiple use and sustained yield principals for also all uses on beneath or above the lake bed. 

Over 20 people attended the public meeting and the reasons were varied.  One participant wanted to protest tax increases, and was told that was not in FFSL purview.  Others complained about the weeds and muck as well as the garbage that visitors leave behind. Coombs said that there are thirty miles of beach and that they have one employee to manage it.  The agency is understaffed and underfunded so it is not able to do as much beach cleanup as needed.

   

Deer flies are not easy to kill. Combs said.  The county does mosquito abatement.  FFSL allows some mowing of weeds to mitigate the fly and mosquito habitat.  Another mentioned that Bark Beetles are a problem, which is not a lake problem; he was advised to talk to the state forester. 

They are now scoping the plan and getting input until mid-December. You can submit a comment online as well as attending the meetings. The earlier you put the comments in in the process the more  weight it will have. When the plan draft Is done in July 2020 there will be a forty five day formal comment period.  There should be a formalized plan in June of 2021.

FFSL manages protect existing resource development uses such as the marina.  They also protect existing resource preservation such as the Swan Creek inflow and the east shore spawning habitat.

FFSL also manages wetlands. In the new plan they will state what is used in each classification, after the classifications are determined, to streamline the permitting processes.  Right now, the permitting is cumbersome because each property must be studied before a permit is issued. It will be more user friendly under the new plan.

Shorelines and management are different at different lake levels.  Resources also change.  The four endemic fish species spawning are affected by low lake levels for example. Two or three years ago there was a LIDAR of the lake taken which has given FFSL new data on the fisheries.  

Best management practices for water quality management are important.  “For example,  boat ramps,” Coombs said.  “We have some good ones and some really terrible ones.  We would like to standardize them.”

They are also doing boundary settlements to establish property. There are some very old deeds up here and some are complicated. If you have a deed after statehood the boundary line is the established high water mark.  

At the annual meeting in spring, they will talk about best practice for  the lake based on that year’s lake level.

   

Parking difficulties were mentioned.  UDOT takes care of the beach above the water line, FFSL manages parking below the water line.   

The current Comprehensive Plan is on their website. http://bit.ly/bearlakeplan

Bob Stevens Obituary 1935- 2019

Robert Leland Stevens
1935 - 2019

On September 24, 2019 at home in North Logan, Utah, Robert (Bob)
Leland Stevens, age 84, passed peacefully from this life through the veil to continue his journey.  His devoted wife, Ann, his high school sweetheart, was by his side holding his hand as he departed – sure to be greeted by his family and loved ones that passed on before him.

Bob was born February 24, 1935 in Morgan, Utah – the first born and only son of Golden Glen and Rhea Olive (Drummond) Stevens.  Bob spent the first six months of his life in Devils Slide, Utah and then moved to Croydon with his parents where he lived for the next four and half years.  In 1940 he moved with his family to Ogden, Utah where he attended the first grade before uprooting again to Nampa, Idaho.  Bob lived in Nampa long enough to attend the second through the fourth grades before his family moved back to Devils Slide, Utah where Bob lived his formative years until he graduated from Morgan High School.
Bob first met his future wife and love of his life, Isabelle Ann Shaw, in 1949.  Bob played the cornet in band and there was a clarinetist sitting behind him that kept kicking the back of his chair.  Bob liked the way she looked and so it began.

After Bob graduated high school in 1953, he enlisted in the Army and spent the next two years serving in Germany.

Upon Bob’s return from service, he and his high school sweetheart, Ann, were married for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 14, 1955.

A little over a year after marriage, their first daughter, Isabelle Kim, was born in August 1956. Shortly after Kim’s six-week checkup, Bob and Ann packed all of their worldly possessions and with Kim, moved to Seattle, Washington where Bob began his career with Boeing. Bob started out as a layout template worker and over the next 39 years he became a mechanical engineer, a propulsion research specialist traveling the country testing jet engines and ending his career as the lab resource manager for engineering laboratories.  He retired early with a ‘golden handshake’ in 1995.

During his tenure at Boeing his family continued to grow with the addition of his son, Thomas Glen in April 1961 and second daughter, Amy Rachelle in May 1968.

Over the years Bob and Ann lived in Kent, Washington where they raised their family, Poulsbo, Washington, Allyn, Washington, building and living in a dream home on the hillside of Garden City, Utah overlooking Bear Lake, and finally settling in North Logan, Utah.

Bob served faithfully in many callings in the church and also served a two-year service mission with Ann at the Bremerton, Washington store house and dry-pack cannery.

Bob also found himself on the HOA of everywhere they lived and the secretary of the Bear Lake Water Company where he was awarded the Office Person of The Year in 2012 by the Rural Water Association of Utah. He faithfully served his community wherever he went.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Rhea, his nephew Michael Johnson, and a great-grandson Kaleb Ashley.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife Ann, his children Kim Welsch (Keith), Tom Stevens (Penilee), Amy Summers (John), 21 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

To some he was known as Bishop Stevens.  To others he was known as Patriarch Stevens.  For a while he was even known as ‘The Muddled Male’ in Rich County, Utah and beyond.  To us, his family, he was known as Bob, Pop, Uncle, and Grandpa.  But to all, he was known as friend.  He freely gave of his time and talents, of which he had many, and served anyone in need.  He made all of us feel like we were his favorite.

We love and miss you, Pop!  Until we meet again…

Bob chose to remain as unassuming in death as he was in life and requested there be no public viewings or funeral.  Instead, there will be a graveside service on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 12:00 pm at the South Morgan, Utah cemetery - 335 S State St, Morgan, UT 84050

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.  For those of you that knew Bob well, enjoy some Peanut M&M’s® in his memory.

https://www.allenmortuaries.net/obituaries/Robert-Stevens-28/#!/Obituary