Ogden Standard Examiner Story About Drowning In Bear Lake

By Andreas Rivera, Standard Examiner Staff

GARDEN CITY - Emergency crews recovered the body of an apparent drowning victim out of Bear Lake on Thursday. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Justin Peterson of Layton, according to a release from Utah State Parks.

Peterson was last seen at the docks of Bear Lake State Park marina on Wednesday night by his family.
Utah State Park Rangers and Richfield County Sheriff search and rescue crews began searching for Peterson the next day. Local divers also assisted in trying to find his body, which was recovered just after 8 p.m. Thursday near the marina.

Park Rangers believe Peterson had somehow fallen off the dock and was unable to get back up. Rangers are still investigating the tragedy and the body is with the State Medical Examiner for autopsy

Contact reporter Andreas Rivera at 801-625-4227 or arivera@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @SE_Andreas

Beaches And Ordinances

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah. June 12. The Garden City Council discussed ordinance changes.  There is now a requirement of a cash deposit of 125% of the value of the infrastructure rather than a developer giving a bond  If the infrastructure is not completed, then the cash is used to finish the project or the developer can give the city  150%  for the build out of that phase.

There was also a discussion on business licenses, if a business is on a transient business license , it costs $1500 for the whole summer which is much cheaper than other resort places said Mayor John Spuhler. Councilman Bruce Warner thinks it keeps businesses out of the area.  But others on the council said it protects existing business from people who come at peak times and take away tax paying businesses.

Council man Warner said that “the city gets a lot of grants which make our finances look good, as if we have a lot of revenue.”  He asked “how are we doing in our other spending especially with water?” Spuhler said that now with the new rates the city is now paying for water .

Warner asked, “do we have a general fund reserve for anything or an emergency that comes up?”  Spuhler said there are some dedicated accounts like resort tax which have funds, above the general fund.  Warner asked if there was any unused excess.  Councilwoman Bess Huefner said that the city is  saving for 300 West.  Huefner said that cities are allowed a certain  amount of excess by law.  The resort tax is creating a lot of revenue for parks, library and pool.   Warner  suggested that the resort funding be used  for transportation costs rather than another tax.

Huefner said that the city need a new lawn mower and the city should be budgeting for it. There are large park mowers that could be obtained for $10,000 each and should be put in the budget.

Spuhler said that it could be put in next year’s budget.   “I’d rather spend money on one 14 passenger bus to try it out this summer.  They will need to budget $20,000 for an ADA compliant bus, a driver and trailer to pull beach toys.  It will be wrapped to protect the paint with the logo “Where Families Come to Play”.  The money will come out of the tourism and recreation budget so it will not come out of the general fund. 

State Lands is receptive to Garden City making a plan to improve the beaches to remove the phragmites and other noxious weeds if the city plans for wildlife preservation.  They will then allow mowing of invasive species and they will even do it themselves right away.  “But,” said Spuhler,  “ if you want to disc the area then you need a study.”  “If we mow now,” said Spuhler,  there might be an area  that you could disc  right now without a study.”  Planning money is easier to get than action funds.  Warner asked if there were places where sand could be brought in to improve the beaches.  It was noted that the sand has to be Bear Lake sand from the north end and it is almost gone.  The jetty marina concept could be a possibility, perhaps a strip of beach could be added to the jetty.

Huefner said that we need to purchase beach front land for the future and to do a study which will allow the city to clean the area below the areas that are for sale now, so that they can look like Ideal Beach.  If the city purchased the lands there would need to have a wetland study done giving the city permission to disc everything below high water mark.  “It is almost prohibitive to buy beach land now.”  Huefner said, “but if we don’t plan for beaches now it will be gone and we are not allowing hotels on the beach. “ 

“If we buy the two properties it will be several million dollars,” said Spuhler.  “How do we pay for that?”   Bess Huefner said that we ought to look for the future to preserve beaches for the future growth.  We need a study on what our options above the high water line.  Gary Cox, city administrator, said that there may be money from the Army Corps to restore beaches since the draw down from Rocky Mt. Power has degraded the beach. 

Bess Huefner talked about the Mud Lake Symposium  The north end of the lake has good beaches because of the water and wind patterns.

The Unmuddled Mathematician

Chris Coray, The Unmuddled Mathematician

Many years ago when I was in graduate school studying the only perfect discipline, summertime provided a break.  Fortunately, there were libraries full of books that contained only hard math story problems so I was saved from a horrible vacuum.

Anyway, during many of those summer weeks I would drive out to Flaming Gorge and work on the Green River below the dam.  By work I mean that I would rent rafts to people who wished to float a small section of the river and if needed I would be the guide for people who were a little nervous about trying the river on their own. 

The most popular stretch of the river was from the dam to Little Hole, a take-out point 7 miles down river.  It is a beautiful stretch of water with no rated rapids, just an occasional little wave.  The water temperature in those days was very cold, just about 39 degrees, as the dam had not yet been modified to mix warmer water from the lake surface.  While the fishing was also pretty good, most trout moved quickly down the river to a point where the water had warmed up. 

All kinds of visitors floated that stretch of water.  It was about an even split between those who wanted to float on their own and those who wanted an experienced person with them.  If the former I would rent the raft and agree to a pick-up time at Little Hole.  Mostly on guided trips I could keep everybody dry except for wet shoes but on one trip there was a lady who spent the whole time whining and constantly applying more and more make-up.  She was having none of the outdoors experience until the raft accidentally found the only wave on the whole stretch and sort of rinsed her make-up off all at once.  Boy, I had to work hard to get the raft into that one little wave.

By far the most unusual trip was a father-daughter pair who wanted to float the 7 miles on their own.  You probably have a mental picture of this couple.  Your picture is wrong.  The daughter was 67, the father 91.  They had no previous experience on a river.  But I rented the raft (not smart on my part) and as I prepared to launch them from the ramp just below the dam I made darn sure that their life jackets were properly and securely fastened.  The pick-up time was set for 3 hours later, about 5 p.m.  The 91 year old guy wasn’t too limber as he climbed into the boat and I was considerably nervous wondering for a second if the daughter had nefarious plans.

At 5 p.m. I was at Little Hole, peering up the river.  Around the bend came the rented raft, with just one person sitting upright.  Wading out into the shallows I grabbed the rope and asked the daughter, “Where is your dad?”  Her answer was short.  “Daddy’s gone”.  

What?  She further said that her father had fallen out of the back of the raft about 3 miles upstream and she hadn’t seen him since.  This was bad.  That water was really, really cold.  The daughter didn’t seem upset.  On the other hand, I was.  I got the daughter out of the raft, sat her on a rock in the warm sun, and hadn’t a clue about what to do. 

In less than ten minutes my anxious staring up river was rewarded by a bobbing head with orange life jacket.  As fast as I could move I got out into the water and snagged daddy.  He was, in order, alive, wet, cold, quiet, and unruffled.  He wasn’t speaking much.   I got him out of his wet shirt, warmed him up with a dry towel, and loaded him into his daughter’s car and waved a cheerful goodbye, at least cheerful to me.  To this day I do not know how he survived and the phrase, “Daddy’s gone” still floods my memories with the trip of that pair. 

I have been tossed into a river by big white water.  Being in the raft is better.

School Board Candidates

There are four people who will be on the primary ballot for a position on the Rich County School Board.  The primary election will be held on June 24 at regular polling places or early voting at the Rich County Courthouse.

In alphabetical order the four candidates are:

Tammy Calder



Tamalyn E. Calder

Hello residents of Rich County.  For those of you who don't know me, my 
name is Tammy Calder (Tamalyn E. Calder on the ballot) and I am running
for school board member in the Garden City precinct. 

I have served on the Rich School Board for 16 years and would love to continue to serve you and your children for another term.  There is a common theme in the political arena at this time that it is "time for change", and I couldn't agree more.  There is ample room for both change and improvement in many of our governing bodies.  With that in mind, I am asking you to re-elect me at this time because of my stability,experience, and desire to offer our children the best education possible
in this ever-changing and challenging world.

I believe strongly in keeping a small-town atmosphere and work ethic in our schools, while still preparing our students to compete in a global work force. I bring a "feminine" view point to our current board that includes four male counterparts, which is important in decision making. 

I do not believe in making political promises to sway your vote.  I will tell you that I will do everything in my power to make the best choices possible in educating our children, spending our tax dollars wisely, keeping a balanced budget, and constantly monitoring policies and procedures while making changes when necessary.  I am more than happy to listen to your concerns and discuss alternatives to current methods of instruction. 

I believe our administration and teaching staff is second to none and that they truly have the best interest of educating our children foremost in their minds and in their hearts.  I have lived in
this community since 1983 and am proud to call it "home".

Lastly, I would like to ask everyone to come out and vote in the primary election on June 24, 2014.  Traditionally, primary elections have very small turnouts.  With four of us running for this single school board position, it is important to get as much representation as possible.  I would appreciate your vote of trust and confidence in serving you with another term on the Rich School Board.  Thank you.

Bryce Huefner

I recognize the impact a local school board has on the education of its children.  It is a solomn duty and honor to hold such trust of the people.

As many of my friends and neighbors in the community know, I am very concerned about the education of our youth.

There are several things I would like to work for if elected:  1) Work to keep the federal government out of our school district.  The constitution of the United States of America expressly prohibits programs like Common Core and federal school lunch programs and we shouldn't allow the federal government to have power over our lives or our childrens' lives by taking money from "them".  2)  I will work to see more input by parents, also known as constituents.  We have felt for years that the school board represents the administration and teachers not those who elected the board.  3)  I will bring some business ideas to the table that can save money and improve the education.  4)  I will be tough but fair to employees in the district.

I say tough because I will work to have the boards' benefits; pay reduced to $0 then the board can require tough changes by the administration and other employees.  I say fair because I realize people rely on equitable treatment when providing a service for pay.  

Andy Stokes









Tiffany Wahlberg

My name is Tiffany M. Wahlberg.  I attended Utah State University where I earned my Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.  While living in Logan I worked for two large accounting firms.  In 2002, my husband and I moved to Garden City, where I opened my own accounting practice.  As a CPA, I assist individuals, businesses and governmental entities with budgeting, tracking finances, and meeting filing and other legal requirements.

My husband and I have four children, three of which will attend Rich County Schools next year.  Their education is very important to us.  A good education lays the foundation for a successful, happy life.  It paves the way for a successful career.  I am running for the position of Rich County School District Board Member to ensure that my children receive the best education possible, while building friendships and enjoying extra-curricular activities.

The school board's responsibilities include adopting policies to set the vision and goals for the district; helping the district achieve those goals; hiring the superintendent, teachers, and other employees of the district; and adopting and overseeing the annual budget.  As you can see, the school plays a very important role in providing a quality educational environment.  In working with other governmental entities, I have assisted them in very similar roles.  My experience in these areas would be a very valuable asset to the school district and community.  When hiring employees, it is important to review all candidates to ensure that the individual hired not only meets, but exceeds the minimum qualifications.

Every child is unique.  Each has their own strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and hobbies.  Schools should offer opportunities for each child to grow and thrive.  Curriculum should allow for adaptation to meet those challenges and strengths.  Courses and extra-curricular activities should be offered that provide a variety of opportunities.  Staff should be hired who are prepared and committed to helping each and every child excel.

Because the school board does play such an important role in a child’s education, it is very important to work closely with parents and others in the community.  Transparency in government is not only desirable, but required by state and federal laws.  As a member of the school board, I will push to have all meetings open whenever possible, ensure meetings are only closed when allowed by law, encourage public input at meetings and on important decisions, and encourage publishing meeting agendas and minutes on the website
.

Please remember to vote in the upcoming primary for both school board and county commissioner.  Thank you for your vote.

Library Rummage Sale

GARDEN CITY LIBRARY RUMMAGE SALE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Thanks to all who donated items to the Garden City Library Rummage sale, and to those who purchased many treasures.  thanks to Garden City’s  businesses that  supported the library:  World Mark Resort,  Bear Trapper, Lakeside Pizza, Chevron,  Merlin’s, Texaco, LeBeau’s, Café Sabor, Quick-N-Tasty, and  Bear Lake Pizza for donating gift certificates, drinks, food, DVD/VCR players, Bear Lake T-Shirts, etc. 

A big shout goes out to the Young Men from Garden City 1^st and 2^nd Wards who volunteered their time and strength:  Drew Moldenhauer, Tyler Nicol, Cole Peterson, Gage Peterson, Rome Peterson, Keegan Terry, Kyler Rasmussen, and Korry Rasmussen. hank you to the following volunteers who donated their time: Bob Peterson, Kay Wise, Cathie Rasmussen, Anita Weston, Jill Peterson, Bobbie Coray, Judy Johnston, Mark Anderson, Brenda Crookston, Chaz Crookston, Dawn Brady, Shane Rasmussen, Kathie Anderson, and Barbara England.  A special thank you goes to Nadine Sprouse who was our cashier for the sale.   

Most important, we thank Doris Mellor, who spent many tireless hours organizing this year’s very successful Library Rummage Sale,

    

     All the money raised at the rummage sale will benefit the Garden City Library patrons.  Please come to our library Mondays, 2-6 pm, Wednesdays, 10-6 pm, Fridays, 2-6 pm, and Saturdays, 10-2 pm.  The library has books, audio books, movies, and computers available.

     DON’T FORGET “AMAZING ANIMALS” SUMMER PARTY ON JUNE 18^TH AT 11: OO A.M. AT THE GARDEN CITY LIBRARY- (3-10 years old)   A light lunch will be provided.   (FREE)

                                    

Estate Sale June 20-22

The Lake House address is: 328 S 150 E Garden City, UT 84028
Lake front property in the Mar Vista Subdivision.
The location shows up clearly on Google Maps but not on MapQuest
10 am to 3 pm  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 20-22

A partial list of goodies include:

Fully Furnished Home: matching like-new heavy solid wood coffee and end tables, entertainment center, dining table /chairs. Couches, lamps, leather captains chairs, 2 recliners, 4 rocking chairs. Board games. Mens clothing, hat rack with hats, matching luggage set, wine rack. Matching bar stools, large standing wooden salad bowl, 3 bedroom sets, dressers w/mirrors with many small tables and chairs. Casio electric organ with back-up box.  LOTS of outdoor furniture. Dishes, glasses, utensils, many electric kitchen appliances, canned food and storage racks, vacuum cleaners. Dramatic, beautiful stuffed animal birds and heads.

Garage: Electric golf cart, gas golf cart, 38” riding lawn mower, snowblower, electric de-thatcher, heavy duty cement mixer, air compressors, pneumatic hoses and tools, battery chargers, commercial freezer, ice machines, refrigerators, gas blower, dollies, steel storage racks, workbench w/drawers, bench vice, wet vac, ladders, wood chipper, 5 golf bags full of clubs, hundreds of golf balls, fishing boats with trailer, out-board motors, 4 cisco nets and fishing gear, old water skis, ice skates, LOTS of lawn tools and garden hoses, LOTS of hand tools, nuts, bolts, irrigation and electrical parts, old steel petrol cans, axes, sledgehammers, etc., etc... Vintage skiboat and trailer, Dodge Caravan.

Clouds

Photo by The Bear Lake Tourist and Convention Bureau

Short Term Rental Issues

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  June 12, 2014. Short term rental licenses  were approved for four properties: 1705 S Bear Lake Blvd.  2206 S. Beach Comber Lane, 607 West Belle Drive, and 1690 South Bear Lake Blvd.

Joan Akre, Garden City resident,  asked during the public comment period, “can the  private companies doing rentals give out  a sheet  that has the city and beach rules that they sign when they rent  so that we don’t have people doing things against the law and then saying they didn’t know it was against the law since they were only renting?  Who do we call when there is something wrong?”

Residents are advised to call Gary Cox at the city offices 435 730 5109 or Chaz Crookston 801 391 6467 on weekends or call the county dispatch.

New Businesses To Open

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. June 12, 2014.   Seven businesses requested business license approval.  Sunrise Resort has remodeled the Harbor Village facility as a family reunion center and business retreat center at 865 Harbor Village East Drive. Owners Nate and Amber Parry.   He said that he hopes they can attract more corporate retreats with their facility and the city facilities. 

Western Skies Lodging, owned by Don Webb will conduct a small hotel, there are three cabins built, there will be 13 more.  UDOT gave them approval to build their turnout. They will be in business at 2085 S. Bear Lake Blvd. UDOT said that they will now enforce the no parking on the highway.  That issue may involve Pickleville Playhouse’s parking.  "But," said Webb, "Western Skies Lodging has plenty of parking for their facility."

Bear Lake Marine will repair vehicles, boats and RV at 100 W. Logan Road. ThIs business is owned by Harrison Bennion.

Firehouse Pizza, owned by Neal Chambers, requested a license for their restaurant at 50 S. Bear Lake Blvd.  They will also do burgers and breakfast.  After the updates on the outside and inside, Firehouse will open the first week  of July.

Jim Stone requested a business location license to conduct a convenience store and paddle board and canoe rental at 585 Bear Lake Blvd, catering to the marina and beach.  Stone said that he will also help people with tours through the area.

There will be a shaved ice business, Endless Summer, at 6 South Bear Lake Blvd, in Raspberry Square, owned by Dillian Liechty.  

McFarland Farms requested a license for a produce stand at 116 S. Bear Lake Blvd.

Increased Parking & Beach Access

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  June 12, 2014.  The studies and drawings for expanded beach access and parking have been completed by JUB Engineering.  With the widening of 75 North, 150 North and 350 North there will be an increase of 300 parking places for people wanting to use the beach.  The parking places will be striped at 45 degree angles and there will be trees along the roadway and walkways for beautification.

350 South has room for significant parking. There will be 42 parking spots to where the walkway will hook onto the boardwalk into the beach. The property is owned by Gloyd Sprouse but the city has an easement for a walkway.

The City plans to start building the parking and turn-arounds on 75 North and 350 North in the next thirty days.  The road improvements will go to bid on July 1.  It will take $500,000.  Over half of that money will be used to improve 150 North.  This makes access to beach convenient and easier.  For less disruption, 150 North will be worked on after labor day.

The city is considering buying two used buses to have them running through the city in the summer on weekends to shuttle people to the beach and to the downtown. City Councilman Bruce Warner does not want to add anything to the sales tax to run it but wants to run it out of the existing budget.  Mayor John  Spuhler suggested that it might have a fee for use, but others countered that the city wants the bus to encourage visitors to use it to do more shopping in town. Warner said, “we are taking on a new continuing expense we should be able to pay for it out of existing funds.”  Sphuler said the visitors will use it the most and the visitors increase sales tax.  The sales tax passes the cost to the visitors, but Warner said it affects our citizens here too.  Spuhler said that every time the city gives visitors something to do it causes an increase the sales tax.

The tourist kiosk is being finished.  Power will be there this week with the signs and maps coming in the next week. The kiosk will have the interactive computer installed soon.

The jetty boat launch idea is getting a lot of support.  Mayor Spuhler said he will be meeting on July 12 with several legislators to get support for the state to build and own it.  It would be a resource for Rendezvous Beach.   The Director of Wildlife Resources said he liked the idea because it creates a fish structure as well as providing a launch.

Needles and Leaves

 

By Jennifer Huefner,

Bear Lake Landscape, Garden City, Utah

 

Rich County May Sheriff's Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. May 214. There were 114 incidents during the month of May.  There were 22 citizen assists, 11 agency assists, 9 medical emergencies, 8 civil processes, 6 animal problems, 6 criminal histories, and 5 alarms.  Garden City accounted for 58 of the incidents.  There were 15 incidents in Laketown, 1 incident in the north end of the county, and 2 incidents out of the county.  There were 27 incidents in Randolph, and 11 incidents in Woodruff.

There were 12 citizen assists in Garden City, 7 agency assists, 5 alarms, and 5 medical emergencies.  There were 4 welfare checks, 3 traffic violations and 3 VIN number inspections.  There were 2 each of the following:  animal problems, attempts to locate, civil processes, suspicious persons/circumstances, thefts, traffic hazards; and one each of the following:  an assault, a dead body, a controlled substance problem, a harassment call, a juvenile problem, a traffic accident with damage, and property damage—not vandalism.

Laketown had 3 agency assists, two citizen assists, and two medical emergencies.  There was one each of the following:  an animal problem, a domestic disturbance, a DUI Alcohol or drug incident, an information report, a lockout, a traffic accident with injuries, a suspicious person/circumstance, and a tobacco problem.

There was an agency assist in the north end of the county and two citizen assists out of the county.

There were 27 incidents in Randolph as follows:  1 alcohol offense, 1 animal problem, 1 burglary, 4 citizen assists, 2 citizen disputes, 2 civil processes, 6 criminal histories, 1 disorderly conduct, 1 information report, 2 medical emergencies, 2 traffic accidents with damage, 1 traffic accident with injuries, 2 traffic hazards, and 1 transport of person/property.

There were 4 civil processes, 2 animal problems, 2 citizen assists, 1 traffic accident with damage, 1 suspicious person/circumstance, and 1 VIN Serial Number Inspection in Woodruff.

There were 18 traffic citations and 19 violations.  Garden City had 10 citations and 10 violations.  Laketown had 3 citations and 4 violations.  Randolph had 3 citations and 3 violations.  Woodruff had 2 of each as well.

The 19 violations were as follows:  15 were speeding, 1 was driving on a denied license, 1 was the purchase or possession of tobacco, 1 was disorderly conduct, and 1 was allowing a vicious animal to go at will. 

There were 19 warnings and 19 violations given.  Twelve warnings and 12 violations were in Garden City.  Six warnings and 6 violations were in Laketown.  There was 1 violation and 1 citation in woodruff.  Of these warnings, 5 were speeding, 2 were an OHV within 100 feet of the water, 11 were motor vehicles on the beach, and 1 was a boating safety certification required.

Obituary: Val Woodward 1927-2014

Val W. Woodward

Val Waddoups Woodward passed away in the peaceful company of loved ones on Friday, June 6, 2014. Family and friends remember him with warmth and fondness as the kindest person, a caring and effective teacher, a colleague of high integrity, fun and engaging company, gently humorous, open and sharing, appealingly good looking, inclusive and international in friendships, a worker for social justice, vigorous and athletic right into his mid-seventies, and, in his last years, generous and patient in sickness. He is deeply missed.


Born in 1927 in Preston, Idaho, to Rollo and Hazel Woodward, Val grew up in Logan, Utah, graduated from Logan High (Class '45), served in the U.S. WWII navy, and earned degrees from Utah State University (bachelor's), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Ph. D., 1953), and Brookhaven, NY (postdoctoral fellow). He was Professor of Genetics at Kansas State, Wichita State, Rice University, and for 33 years at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul campus. His publications include dozens of research articles in highly regarded scientific journals, two textbooks, and memoirs of his father and growing up in Logan. Val won essentially every teaching and human rights award given by the University of Minnesota, and the even more satisfying tribute of continued contact and friendship from former students and associates. Friends and colleagues from numerous countries and all continents kept in touch for decades. Val retired in 2000 to Garden City, Utah, overlooking Bear Lake, and later wintered in Salt Lake City.


Val's life is remembered with joy by his wife Clare Woodward, son and spouse Jim and Terry Woodward, daughter and spouse Kathryn and; Larry Bittner, daughter-in-law Carol Woodward, grandchildren Adrian and Jessica Woodward, Alana and Dan Brooks, Chandra Baca, Deanna and Kevin Budack, Valerie Woodward, Dawn and Peter Drlik, Lauren Bittner, Dustin Bittner, and 8 great/great-great grandchildren. He grieved to his final days the death of his son, Dean. Val's heart held special affection for brothers Ken Woodward and Dow Woodward, sisters Ann Porter and Ruth Harris, and their families.


As he wished, Val is to be buried privately. A memorial gathering will be announced at a future time. Val's wife and children will be at home to visit with family and friends on Thursday, June 12, from 4-7 p.m. at 77 C St. Salt Lake City, 84103 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hjnews/obituary.

The Muddled Male

Paranoia

By Bob Stevens, The Muddled Male

         I have been struggling this week to put together a true event in my life that would be a subtle admission that I am a muddled male without making me look too bad in comparison to Ann, my wife, who struggles to keep me among the living by sharing secrets with our dentist in an attempt to get him to lecture me about my eating habits while my mouth is full of dental tools and I can’t do anything but lay there and listen while he stands over me waving a high speed drill and a needle with which he inflicts pain while claiming that he is doing it to prevent pain.

            What Ann doesn’t realize is that I can hear everything she says concerning my addiction to French fries and pop because I am strapped in the chair across the half-wall from the chair in which she sits elucidating my flaws.  I guess this came to mind tonight because I am schedule for an expensive, multiple gold-crown replacement this week at which time I am likely to receive another lecture at the instigation of my wife.  I know this will happen because I received a preview of her current concerns when we went together to visit with DJ, our doctor, to get our annual checkup at which time she again recited my culinary sins.

            But what I had planned to share has to do with what Ann calls my paranoia.  I spent, you see, fifty years in an area that is now rapidly becoming over populated with legal pot smokers, many of whom started their career as illegal pot smokers.  Which explains my habit of locking my car even as it sits in my own driveway high on Sweetwater Hill.  Ann, who after moving back to Utah resumed the Utahan’s tendency to assume that everyone is honest and there is no reason to lock anything, badgers me because I have a habit of locking my car even if it is sitting in our locked garage.  Same with the house.  “Don’t worry about locking the house,” she says, “we’ll be back in a week and what burglar would be dumb enough to hike all the way up here in the snow just to break into a house that contains nothing desirable.”  Luckily I have been able to trump her trust with my paranoia and we lock the house with a dead bolt even when we just go out to shovel snow off the deck or stand in the yard and pull weeds.  And I won’t even mention my tendency to shred every piece of paper that carries any mark that might identify it as having once belonged to me.  I am known at the Logan dump as the bag man for the bales of shredded identifiers I carefully place into the recycle bins and then stir them in to make certain that mine and all the others are mixed together so as to complicate any attempt to identify me by reassembling my particular shreds.

            I have decided that I am going to place a sign at the entrance to our property that notifies any potential burglar that a simple, poor engineer lives here who already has spent his retirement and who has nothing of value to steal except his iPhone which is strapped to his chest at all times in a locked holster that will explode if touched by anyone other than himself.  And if the burglar does take the risk and causes the phone to explode, the burglar will likely be covered all over with bits and pieces of an unhealthy man.  The sign will also include a note that tells the potential burglar that he/or she (to be politically correct) should go down the hill to the wealthy, un-muddled mathematician’s house where he likely has gold and diamonds laying around in neat piles arranged according to the Pythagorean theorem and will be easy to load.  Oh yes, I will note, bring a large bag.

Vote In Rich County Primary

This year there will only be a Republican primary election for County Commissioner since there is no challenger from the Democratic Party in Rich County.  A close election in the Republican Caucus which had about 20 people attending meant that no candidate got enough votes to avoid a primary race.

If you are not registered you must register at the County Courthouse by June 13 or by June 16 online.  Early voting will begin at the courthouse by June  16 if you have registered by the 13th

The election will be held June 24 at regular polling places starting at 8 a.m.  To vote in this election, you must be a registered Republican.

Both candidates have family roots in Rich County and both are good public servants.  Rich Civic Times Online asked each to write a statement outlining their vision for the county.  As many know the staff reports are held in open meetings in Garden City and in closed meetings in the County.  RCT asked each how they felt about giving the public more access and transparency in county government.

People often overlook voting for local offices, yet it is the local officials who have the most direct impact on the quality of life in an area.  RCTonline urges everyone to vote in this early primary.