Snow and Animals
By Bryce Nielson
Winter is at our doorstep. Actually, it started the last of October with a good snowstorm, that was not unheard of but surprising none the less. We had a nice spell through November, the snow melted but it is back with a vengeance now. Over the last forty-six years here at the lake, I have always been fascinated with the different winter weather conditions. What really interests me, however, is how the animals react to it.
You can tell what animals are doing by looking at their tracks in the snow. You can see everything from moose to mice tracks scattered across the landscape. They are typically gone by the time you see the tracks since most of their movement is at night. Big game usually like to lay in the sun during the cold winter days. So, what have I observed from the tracks in the snow? The deer, elk and moose are staying put for now. There are lots of deer tracks in some locations, but it is hard to say how many individuals there are. One deer foraging on bitterbrush leaves many tracks. In past years, moose would move from Sagebrush Flat passing my house to Hodges Canyon where they would stay for the winter. I haven’t seen any this fall. The same goes for elk that previously migrated from Idaho to the raspberry fields. The fields are gone and so are, the elk. Deer are typically easy to see this time of year, but I haven’t seen many. I drove around the Lake the other day and didn’t see one.
The birds are different also. I don’t see many coots on the lake near the BLSP marina. Few ducks around the shoreline and an occasional swan. At my feeder, the black capped and mountain chickadees taken over which is unusual. The turkeys are bunched up and scattered.
Is this a result of development, more people, overhunting, or worse yet, climate change? No, I think it is the natural populations adapting to their environment. That is why watching wildlife is so fun. It is a great family activity to have your kids watch with you and listen to what they say. Watch the animals and birds in this beautiful valley for the rest of the winter. Come to your own conclusions. I am only one set of old eyes. I am sure things will change.
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Monday, December 30, 2019
Garden City Town Council Report
Anita
Weston, Reporter
Rich
Civic Times
GARDEN
CITY, Utah. December 12, 2019. The City Council asked Jordan Parry if he
would be willing to serve on the Council for an additional two years beginning
on January 1, 2020. He said he would be
happy to. The motion was made and passed
that Jordan Parry will serve for two additional years until the next election
is held.
Alan
Arthur requested to have two lots 19 and 20 in the Buttercup Mobile Home
Estates Subdivision be encumbered. He
would like to build an accessory building on lot 19. His home is on lot 20. The motion was made and passed to encumber
these two lots.
A
preliminary plat discussion was held concerning an approval for WaterDance
Planned Unit Development Phase 2. The
motion was made and passed to approve the preliminary plat. The comment was made that if there are any
problems, they can be taken care of when the final plat is brought before the
Council.
The
Garden City Youth Council Charter has been written. After a short discussion, the motion to
approve the ordinances for the youth Council was made. The motion passed.
A
preliminary plat discussion was held concerning the Long Ridge Subdivision,
Phase 2. This subdivision is located
West of Cherimoya along Hodges Canyon Road.
Jeff Jorgenson is representing this Subdivision.
He
had a list of items that have been completed, such as making sure all taxes are
paid for Phase 2. That the preliminary
title has been obtained. There were also
a few items that had been changed on the plat.
A power pole was dedicated to the City.
There is a curve that will be made around the pole. There is a road that appears to be part of
Phase 2 but will be included in Phase 3.
The current roads will be gravel because it is much easier to asphalt
all the roads at one time instead of in small increments.
The
motion was made to approve the revised preliminary plat for Phase 2. The motion was passed.
A
request was made that some signs be made so that people are aware of where
Buttercup is located. It was suggested
that Buttercup representatives get the signs.
Jordan
Parry reported that the chemical feed system for the hot tub is broken. However, the pool is currently working. The Mayor asked that Jordan Perry and Glen
Gilles monitor the water in the pool every day for the next 30 days and make
sure the pool is operating as required.
Councilman
Howard Pope reported that he hadn’t been able to check on the trails,
especially where Bryan Hershi was working on areas on the trail. He had a backhoe at work. Hopefully, some work was done. It was suggested that Howard Pope make
arrangements to meet with Ted Wilson to determine where the trails go on and
around his property.
Councilwoman
Pat Argyle noted that she needs some more work done on the stage. The Mayor asked that she get some drawings
and get them approved. She noted that no
one had volunteered to work with her for Raspberry Days for next year. She again asked for some help from members in
the community for next year’s Raspberry Days.
If you are willing to help, please contact her.
Councilman
Ken Hansen reported that the library is doing wonderful things. The Library has equipment and programs that
are fantastic. The abilities and
opportunities to do school online, take classes on how to do all kinds of
handwork or any other types of hobbies, etc. can easily be set up, and they are
free. Also, there are ways to get access
to the State Library as well as any of the other libraries in the state. The list of what is possible to do or obtain
from the library are tremendous. Members
of the community are encouraged to take advantage of all of the items that are
available at the library.
Hansen
also noted that several libraries use new media equipment. There are creative apps. These apps are educational. The name of one is Creative Bug. There are short classes with all types and
kinds of hand work etc. Others have
Little Bookshelves in the parks. If
there is someone at the park who would like to read a book they can pick it up
from the little book shelf.
There
is a food pantry at the library. Many
individuals in the community are not aware of the many products in the food
pantry.
Dawn
Brady has been asked to serve on the Library Board. A motion was made and passed to put her on
the Board.
Mayor Mike Leonhardt reported that the water is now
back on for the community. Two big tanks
had been drained but are now filled again.
The
Mayor also reported that the breezeway between the City Office and the
convention room on the north will be filled in.
The bid will be out to build between these two buildings.
UDOT
is contacting property owners at the junction where Logan Road intersects with
Bear Lake Blvd. They are getting ready
to put in the traffic lights in that area.
Some power poles in that area needed to be taller or changed out. Hopefully, these items can be taken care of
and the lights installed soon.
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Village Church has a new location
The Village Church in Garden City, Utah is thrilled to announce our new location beginning January 5 th , 2020!
Our new Worship Center will provide room to grow and a recognizable location at 65 West Logan Road right on the highway just a block from the three-way stop. The building was built in 2006 and served for a number of years as the Bear Country Trading Post. Most recently, over the past
few years, it has been the location of the Blind Coyote operated by Vicki Mercer.
But beginning in January on that first Sunday it will now be the home of the Village Church. And everyone in the area is invited to our Open House Sunday!
The worship will begin at 10:30 AM but please come early and get to know our church family and check out our new facilities.
We are a Bible-teaching church, not connected with any denomination, but we are connected with each other and desire to grow in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We will look for you on January 5, sometime before 10:30. We usually finish ourworship time around 11:45 but we love to hang around and get to know each other better before heading home. There is a newly paved parking lot in the Village and parking on the street out front. Join us!
Our new Worship Center will provide room to grow and a recognizable location at 65 West Logan Road right on the highway just a block from the three-way stop. The building was built in 2006 and served for a number of years as the Bear Country Trading Post. Most recently, over the past
few years, it has been the location of the Blind Coyote operated by Vicki Mercer.
But beginning in January on that first Sunday it will now be the home of the Village Church. And everyone in the area is invited to our Open House Sunday!
The worship will begin at 10:30 AM but please come early and get to know our church family and check out our new facilities.
We are a Bible-teaching church, not connected with any denomination, but we are connected with each other and desire to grow in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We will look for you on January 5, sometime before 10:30. We usually finish ourworship time around 11:45 but we love to hang around and get to know each other better before heading home. There is a newly paved parking lot in the Village and parking on the street out front. Join us!
Bear Lake State Parks Report 2019
RANDOLPH, Utah.
December 4, 2019. Richard
Droesbeke, State Parks, gave County Commissioners the 2019 Park Review.
Visitations to the Utah part of the lake in the State Parks were up by 45,000 from
FY 2018. A total 383,000 people visited
this year. (As a comparison in 2011, there were 234,000 visitors.) Idaho visitations were also up, so there were a lot of
people using the facilities and the lake.
Direct revenue to Utah was $1.5
million, $130,000 more profit this year than last year. Of that 38% was camping, 25% slip rental, 26%
day use, 11% permits and concession royalty.
Activities in 2019:
- 10th Annual Cisco Disco and Bear Lake Monster Plunge. This year there were 176 plungers and it is growing every year.
- 8th Annual Swim Across Bear Lake. This year 46 people did it.
- 19th Raspberry Days Boat Light Parade filled the parking area with spectators
- Winterfest on the 25th of January will have fireworks.
Nearly 40 Special Use Permits, family reunions and other
events were held.
There are 140 people on the waiting list for a slip. There are 360 slips now being used. A new
marina new would fill up immediately.
Projects For Next Year:
- Four restrooms to be replaced in Rendezvous Beach.
- UDOT Recreation Hotspot funds of 5 million to reconstruct and make safer the entrance to marina will start mid to next summer.
- North Eden Improvements $2million.
- South Eden RV power connections.
- Replace three oldest vault toilet in Cisco Beach and add one new toilet in Rainbow Cove.
- Added ten wooden shade shelters at Cisco which were donated and now will put concrete pads under them.
- Obtained USACE beach maintenance/grooming permit for North Eden, Rendezvous Beach, and the north end of Rainbow Cove. This means State Parks is allowed to do much more than before including in Rainbow Cove.
- Complete road and campsite realignment.
There were many days when the marina was packed and totally
full. On Labor Day weekend the Parks turned
people away. Commissioner Bill Cox said that anytime it gets to 100 degrees in
Wasatch Front then everyone comes to the lake.
Critical Issues:
- Need a full time maintenance position. These Parks are creating a lot of revenue and growing faster.
- Full time office manager/accountant.
- Placement of dumpsters is an issue for emptying by County Sanitation trucks.
The Marina:
- Parking Capacity
- Condition of main asphalt parking lot
- Marina Expansion
- Additional Restrooms
Rendezvous Beach:
- Day use parking capacity.
- Additional day use restroom.
- Renovation of Cottonwood Campground.
Eastside:
- More nights at or above capacity.
- First Point parking issues.
- Water and sewer development for future.
- Large scale facility development at Rainbow Cove campground.
Winter Snowmobile trail Grooming:Access for year round logging
operations.is needed. In Temple Canyon, this is still in negotiations.
The Commissioners suggested that since the EMT’s volunteer
nearly full time all summer for these visitors it might be nice to give them
free passes to the Parks.
Monday, December 23, 2019
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Rich County Budget Hearing
Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times
RANDOLPH, Utah. December 4, 2019. The tax increase this year for the Sanitation Department and garbage collection not take care of the need. They restructured the way nightly rentals were charged and expected a $90,000 increase in revenue , but have not seen the increase yet. The Commission wanted to get to $600,000. In the past the county was charging by the dump and was losing money. But now dump are being replaced by cans which may decrease the revenue. The county bought a new truck this year for $360,000.
Rich Civic Times
RANDOLPH, Utah. December 4, 2019. The tax increase this year for the Sanitation Department and garbage collection not take care of the need. They restructured the way nightly rentals were charged and expected a $90,000 increase in revenue , but have not seen the increase yet. The Commission wanted to get to $600,000. In the past the county was charging by the dump and was losing money. But now dump are being replaced by cans which may decrease the revenue. The county bought a new truck this year for $360,000.
Commissioner Bill Cox said that unfortunately new growth
doesn’t bring more money to the county.
The new tax structure just decreases the overall tax rate. For example
the new solar farm will pay $175,000 – $200,000 in taxes but that will not go to
the County. The tax structure was
changed so that counties cannot take
advantage of new growth. There is a way
to circumvent this, the County needs to add those taxes into the budget and
then do a “truth in taxation” public hearing.
Elected officials are reluctant to do this because people think this
means their taxes will go up and they get angry even though it brings new
outside revenue into the County.
However, it can be explained as a way to avoid higher taxes in the
future.
The Commissioners agree that the hardest part of the job is
balancing budget with needs. Employee wages are low, which makes it hard competing
for quality people who can go elsewhere.
EMT are overburdened and new ones not coming on because the commitment
is at least three times a day on the ambulance which in summer is running 24/7.
Rich Middle School Honor Roll
Rich Middle School
Honor Roll
First Trimester 2019-20
6th grade
Easton Eborn
Carly England*
Dylan Fonnesbeck
Karter Groll
Jett Holmes
Ridge Lundgren
Shylee Mecham
Kade Nelson
Tyla Pugmire
Hailey Romesser
Paige Smith
Ashlyn Stevens
Morgan Ward
Dylan Wasden
Aiden Weston
Avery Weston
*4.0 gpa
7th
grade
Kassi Argyle
Kamree Call*
Jared Carver
Peyton Cluff
Faith Downing*
Ethan Earl
Jaxon Frisby
Brenley Hatch
Gavin Hirschi*
Carter Hoffman
Ryker Hoffman
Tesla Holmes
Kobey Johnson*
Sylvia Klein*
Samuel Leifson*
Antonio Maldonado*
Draven Marshall
Asay Nielsen
Talon Pace
Hilary Rex*
Daniel Smith
Carter Stokes
Drake Weston
8th
grade
Jack Bell
Addison Carrillo
Jayna Carver
Kamille Dotson
Austin England*
Ivan Flores
Karlee Frandsen
Peyton Gough
Kaysen Johnson
Trae Jolley
Saige Lundgren
Rylee Moldenhauer
Carson Muirbrook
Haydee Pugmire
Brayden Romesser
James Schulthess
Hannah Scott*
Violett Taylor*
Martin Vasquez
Brittany Wahlberg
Taylor Walker*
Jainee Wallentine*
Bret Weston
Kasey Wilson*
Garden City Planning Commission Meeting
Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times
GARDEN CITY, Utah. December 4, 2019. Norm
Mecham requested that the Planning Commission look at his Phase 2 of
Waterdance. He showed the plans for his next building phase which will be on
the south half of the property. In this
phase he would like to build eight small town homes and 9 tri-plex condos. There will be a turnaround on the road on the
outside of phase 2. That makes it easier
for working as well as for people as they buy the units. He has met the requirement for parking, for
green space, setbacks etc.
The
Commission made the motion and passed it to approve phase 2 as a preliminary
plan.
There
was a discussion of phase 2 of the preliminary plan for Long Ridge
Subdivision. Jeff Jorgensen, engineer, explained the concept plan and gave copies of the plan to the various
commission members. He noted that there
were some issues about a power pole in the subdivision that has been deeded to
Garden City. It was also noted that
there already is a utility easement going through the Subdivision.
There
were some changes made to several of the lots and information about some of the
roads that will be part of the subdivision were discussed. It was suggested that Homestead Road which
will be 80’ wide should be roughed in on the map. It will not be asphalt until
Phrase 3 is built.
It
was suggested that areas will need to be determined where sanitation dumpsters
will be placed or if black cans would be more appropriate.
It
was noted that they might add a small residential cluster development with
about a half a dozen cabins. There is no
lake view on that property, but it is close to the trail head area which might
appeal to some people. They will start
closing on lots in the spring.
The
motion was made to give approval for the preliminary phase 2 with the contingency that The City Engineer’s
list of suggestions be followed and that Paradise Parkway in the lower section
be 80’ wide. The Commission told Mr.
Jorgensen that he can now take the information to the City Council for their
approval as well.
Mark
Smoot reported on having food trucks during the summer. He said there were three problems with food
trucks. Last summer, they came too late. The second problem was there were no places
where those individuals running the food trucks could live or stay. Commissary issues were very
challenging. Where were they to get the
needed groceries in a short time at a commercial rate.
There
are still a couple of trucks or containers that haven’t been moved. He noted that they were supposed to be off
the property shortly after summer crowds were gone.
Smoot noted that he would manage the area.
He added lights, music, and fire pit, and planted some grass. He also brought in tables and shelters where
people could sit down to eat.
The
truck owners already had transient license from their hometown, but still had
to register to get a transient business license in Garden City. That license was overpriced so that the truck
owners lost money.
Smoot reported that he is starting to set up schedules now for next
summer. Last year, they just didn’t get
any traction, and no one made any money.
Mr. Smoot thought if the truck owners were work with local as well as Montpelier
that they could perhaps be able to get the needed food items in a timely
manner.
He
also recommended that the trucks be open all week long, not just on the
weekends. He also thought that some of
the food trucks could cooperate and work with Conestoga to see how they were
getting meals for campers etc. There
need to be more than just two or three, and they should be lined up in a
different fashion. They also need to
have more than a toasted cheese sandwich for their menu. Mr. Smoot also thought that people do stay
for six or seven days a week and there needs to be more places for campers and
camping.
Smoot thinks it is worth trying for another summer. He thinks the food trucks should be into
Garden City at least by Father’s Day and plan to stay until the middle or end
of August. They should get their permits
and paperwork done before they open and make sure they know about sales tax and
a transient license.
Smoot has made an ice-skating pond where the food trucks were. He has the lights in place, lots of ice skates
that can be rented from the Epic building, which is just across the road on the
north. There will be lots of music and
fun. Hopefully, the locals will take
advantage of this skating rink and have a fun winter.
It
was suggested last meeting that the Planning Commission write up a
campground/RV Ordinance. The talked
about how many acres should be in such an area. They determined that perhaps
four to acres would be appropriate. They
also decided that utilities such as water, sewer connection or a dump site, as
well as electricity needed to be available.
Susan House was asked to write up the ordinance and present it at the
next meeting.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Part time Special Education Aide needed
RICH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dale Lamborn, Superintendent
Jennie Johnson, Business Administrator Marlene Wilson, Admin. Assistant
December 10, 2019
Rich County School District is accepting applications for the following position for the 2019-2020 school year:
One Part Time Special Education Aide at RMS/NRE. Applicants must be willing to submit to a background check.
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 Drivers 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, perform routine record keeping functions, and establish and maintain working relationships with co-workers, teachers, students, and the public.
Application can be found online
www.richschool.org, employment
Send application to: Rich Middle School Principal Kip Motta
P O Box 129
Laketown, UT 84038
Phone: 435-946-3359
Fax: 435-946-3366
Email to: kmotta@richschool.org
CLOSING DATE: This position will remain open and applications accepted until a qualified candidate is hired.
P. O. Box 67 ! Randolph, Utah 84064 ! Phone 435 793-2135 ! Fax 435-793-2136
Equal Opportunity Employer
Monday, December 9, 2019
Eighteen Wheeler Philosophy
Case Closed
By Mel Hansen, The Eighteen Wheeler Philosopher
I’m pretty sure I’ve heard this hundreds of times before or something similar, but today when I heard it in a book I’m listening to...it really made sense to me...and I’m going to start practicing it and save myself and others a whole lot of headaches!
“The best way to avoid a argument? Don’t respond.”
It kind of reminds me of what my dad would tell me...with a slight grin...after he would only allow me to...”argue”... with him so far.
“You may...think...your right my boy! But...I Know...I’m right!”
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