Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

Historical Figure

-Author of Castle Valley Pageant, Montell Seely, is laid to rest after accident on hand cart trek

Lawsuit Filed on Treatment Center

-The on again off again debate over a residential treatment facility for troubled teenage girls in Ferron is on again as a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District court on Aug. 6 against Ferron City.

New Postmasters Selected for Local Post Offices

-The retirement of one postmaster and the transfers of two other postmasters have resulted in the appointments of three new postmasters in Emery County.

Trash Contract Debate Continues in Ferron

-The garbage debate continued, dominating the Ferron City council meeting Aug. 14.

 

  

 

 

 

Historical Figure

Author of Castle Valley Pageant laid to rest
after accident on hand cart trek

James L. Davis

Friends of Montell Seely might say he was a 19th Century man who lived, and died, in a 21st Century world.

The passing of the husband, father, farmer and lover of pioneer history who dreamed of the Castle Valley Pageant and with sheer force of will brought the pageant to life, was in many ways a testament to his life.  He died on Aug. 12 while doing what he loved, reliving a little of the pioneer past that he came to personify.

That Montell was struck down by a motorist while leading a handcart expedition across the mountains came as a shock to the county that had grown used to him being here, a living piece of history, although he was only 74.

If his death leading a handcart expedition in 2008 seemed a little surreal, it might have made Montell himself smile. Less than three days after the last performance of the 2008 Castle Valley Pageant, Montell died recreating the trek the pageant told the story of. With Montell, Hannah Wagstaff, 13, was also killed when they were hit by a motorist who was blinded by the early morning sun. In the accident two of Montell’s grandchildren, Johnny Seely, 7, and Hannah Seely, 9, were injured.

On Aug. 16 Montell was laid to rest in the Castle Dale Cemetery, and at his funeral his loved ones tipped their hats to the man and his way of life.  His funeral held true to the pioneer heritage he so loved.

The Castle Dale Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Stake Center was filled to capacity by friends and loved ones who cried, laughed and remembered the man of history in a service that was a celebration of his life.

Of those speaking at his funeral were friends Mark Justice, Delvin McFarlane and Neal Peacock, but the most touching talk of the service came from Montell’s own son, Mark, who addressed the audience with a strong voice, often touched with emotion as he read tributes he and his sisters had written of their father.

When it came time for his tribute to his father, Mark read a passage from Montell’s own journal, which he had kept faithfully since 1976.  The passage he read was from Montell’s entry on Sunday morning, Aug. 10, two days before his passing and one short night since the last performance of the 31st season of the Castle Valley Pageant.

From his father’s journal Mark read how Montell had gone to the pageant site at 5:30 on Sunday morning and told the security guard he could go home, since he was planning to be there for a while.  Then Montell went and freed his horses and sent them down the road, knowing they would go to the cattle guard just before the Emery County Sheriff’s Office Complex.  After that he took his wagons and buggies and one by one pulled them down to the road and hitched them together, finally hooking them to his own pickup

“This makes quite a train,” Montell wrote in his journal.

“He even drew an illustration in his journal,” Mark told the congregation.  Montell went on to write that he gathered up his lead mare and led it by the reins through the window of his truck and the other horses followed and in such a manner he drove his train of wagons and buggies and horses down the road and through the Castle Dale subdivision toward his home.

“Everyone waved to me with a big smile as I went by,” Montell wrote in his journal. “It was about 8:30 when I arrived home.  So the whole operation was all accomplished in three hours with one trip.  If I had hauled all of these units plus the horses one at a time it would have taken six trips and six hours.  Think of the additional time and gas.  The bonus was I enjoyed the experience.  I changed clothes and went to church.  After church I went to the farm and tended my water.  Then I came home and started putting away my wagons and buggies.  I thoroughly enjoy having a collection of buggies.  It gives me great satisfaction to have buggies. I like to look at them, or have a team and drive them.”

Also during the service Mark related how his father always held so much enthusiasm for the Castle Valley Pageant, which he wrote based on the true stories of the first settlers of Castle Valley, his own relatives included.  He recalled that Montell used to make a guarantee to those who had never come to the pageant before:

“’If we don’t make you laugh, we’ll pay your gas to get here, if we don’t make you cry, we’ll pay your gas to get home,’” Mark said his father used to tell visitors.  “He never had to pay for any gas.”
At the end of the service Montell was laid to rest at the Castle Dale Cemetery, taken by covered wagon to his final resting place as family followed behind in a horse drawn wagon.  As the Seely family made their way down the street lined with flags toward the cemetery, people paused to watch the procession as a visitor from the 19th Century passed by…one last time.

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Lawsuit Filed on Treatment Center

James L. Davis

The on again off again debate over a residential treatment facility for troubled teenage girls in Ferron is on again as a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District court on Aug. 6 against Ferron City.

The lawsuit, filed by disability law attorney Raymond Scott Berry on behalf of Charlotte Williams and her company, Pine Meadows Residential Treatment Center, asks the court to compel the city council to issue the center a business license. The battle between Williams and Ferron City has been ongoing since last December over the issues of permitting the development of a residen­tial treatment facility for troubled teenagers in Fer­ron. The Ferron City Coun­cil voted during its Feb. 28 meeting against amending its zoning ordinances to allow the facility to go for­ward, the last action by the city in a back and forth debate that has embroiled much of the community.

In February residents for and against the facility filed into the council chambers after the Ferron Planning and Zoning Committee returned the hot potato is­sue to the council with the recommendation that the council change its zoning ordinance to allow the fa­cility to be established in South Ferron.

The residential treat­ment facility and discus­sions about it encompassed three separate items on the Ferron City Council agen­da on the night of Feb. 28, with pro­ponents for the facility and critics of the facility both requesting their opportu­nity to address the council prior to its deliberation of the issue.
At that time Williams addressed the council and read a let­ter from her attorneys at the office of Hughes and Morley. In the letter At­torney Jaymon J. Thomas presented his analysis of the issue, stating: “The starting point of our analysis is the fact that the proposed use is for a residential facility for the disabled; in this case, dis­abled young women be­tween the ages of 12-18. The young women who will be admitted to this residential program suffer from a vari­ety of mental impairments, including emotional and behavioral disturbances, depression, communica­tion disorders, and atten­tion deficit and disruptive behaviors. These impair­ments substantially limit the major life activities of these young women,” Thomas said in his letter.

William’s attorneys argued that as a matter of state law residential facili­ties for the disabled are al­lowed in any zone where non-disabled individuals are allowed to reside. With that being the case, the at­torneys presented to the council their belief that not only did the city not need to change its zoning to al­low the facility, but it had no legal argument for de­nying the facility the right to open.

“On behalf of Ms. Wil­liams we do request that you reconsider her request in light of the informa­tion presented herein, and grant her the permission she seeks. Alternatively,  we suggest that you briefly postpone final determination of the matter until you and your legal representative can familiarize yourselves with the information we have pre­sented, and advise you ac­cordingly,” Thomas said in closing remarks in his letter.

Before the council en­tertained a motion on the subject, Mayor Gil Conover asked the city attorney, Rich­ard Chamberlain, who was present at the meeting, his view of the legal argument presented by Williams’ at­torneys.
Chamberlain told the city in January that he be­lieved that since there was no zone in Ferron that specif­ically permits a facility such as Williams’, it would be ap­propriate to deny it. He said after analyzing the argument of her attorneys his opin­ion had not changed. In his analysis Chamberlain said he believed there was a dif­ference between a residen­tial facility and a residential treatment facility, namely that treatment could include residents of a facility that were there against their will.

“It’s still my opinion that you would have to amend your ordinance to allow the facility,” Chamberlain said.

Williams’ attorneys had urged the city council to ob­tain a legal opinion on the issue from attorney David Church, who provides legal advice and interpretations for the Utah League of Cit­ies and Towns. Chamberlain said he understood if the city wanted a second opin­ion on the subject and Mayor Conover indicated he had talked with Church and the attorney had recommended the city follow the legal ad­vice of Chamberlain.

After Chamberlain had given his legal opinion on the matter, Mayor Conover asked for a motion on the matter and Councilman Trent Jackson moved that the city not amend its zoning ordinances to allow the facil­ity. He said he made such a motion partly because he felt it was the best thing for the city and partly because a change went against the city’s master plan. His mo­tion was seconded by Coun­cilmember Ronny Bloomer.

In a vote on the motion the decision was made to approve the motion to not amend its zoning ordinances by a vote of 4-1.

When the issue first came before the planning and zoning committee in December of last year there was not a quorum present to vote on the zoning request and when the issue went before city council that same night the city approved a business license to Williams for her facility, pending clearance by planning and zoning. With what she felt was con­ditional approval to open her business; Williams in­vested on renovations to the building she had leased to prepare it for operation.

In the interim residents living close to where the fa­cility would be established began to voice their con­cerns about troubled youth being housed in a treatment facility they did not want to be in and argued that a treatment facility is far dif­ferent than a foster home. During the Jan. 10 meetings of the planning and zon­ing committee and the city council the issue dominated both meetings with the end result being that planning and zoning recommended that the city council rescind their earlier decision to give a business license to Wil­liams. During the city council meeting the council took the committee’s recommen­dation and rescinded the license and the issue went back to planning and zoning for further discussion and research. Planning and zon­ing returned the issue to city council on Feb. 19.

With the final decision made by the city council to not amend its zoning ordinances, Williams’ only re­course to pursue the devel­opment of the facility would be to make a legal challenge of the city council’s decision.

Attorneys for Williams filed an appeal of the decision denying the application with Ferron on March 27 and received no response from the appeal, which is what took place with the Aug. 6 filing in district court.

The complaint filed against Ferron City seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages under the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 and the Fair Housing Act, which state that it is illegal to discriminate against any person because of their disability.  According to the filing documents Williams’ out of pocket expenses for Pine Meadows in securing the facility, satisfying state licensing requirements and trying to secure a business license total approximately $77,500 as of May 31.  Additionally, the court document claims that each month that the facility has not been able to operate it has lost monthly placement fees in the amount of approximately $104,000.  In the filing document the court is asked to award compensatory and punitive damages to Pine Meadows in an amount to be proven at trial.

With litigation pending, both sides were advised not to comment by their attorneys, but in an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, Ferron Mayor Gil Conover indicated that he was surprised by the action against the city and that Ferron was willing to grant Williams a license.  He indicated that the city council had sent such notices to Williams’ attorney.

Williams responded to the Salt Lake Tribune that the city said they would issue her a license, but they had not put her on the agenda.

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New Postmasters Selected for
Local Post Offices

Kathy Ockey

The retirement of one postmaster and the transfers of two other postmasters have resulted in the appointments of three new postmasters in Emery County.

Debbie Newman, Huntington resident and post office clerk, was appointed postmaster in Orangeville effective Aug. 16. 

Debbie has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 21 years.

“This is my career. I love it.  I love being involved with the people and the community.  I really enjoy the people of Orangeville and want them to know I am here to serve them and want to do a good job,” she said.

Jamie Bingham was appointed as postmaster in the Castle Dale Post Office and will start Aug. 30.  She grew up in Huntington and is now living and working in Pleasant Grove.  Jamie started as a clerk in Huntington 25 years ago.   She said she is really excited to work in Castle Dale and has been trying for years to come back to this area to work. 

Christine Anselmo was appointed postmaster for the Cleveland Post Office beginning Aug. 30.  Christine has worked for the postal service in Price for 17 years.  She lives in Elmo and said she was pleased that she will be closer to home.  Christine said she has been a supervisor and is excited for the new position.

“It will be a welcome change,” she said.

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Trash Contract Debate
Continues in Ferron

Colleen Davis

The garbage debate continued, dominating the Ferron City council meeting Aug. 14.

Wade Williams, owner of City Sanitation opened discussion, stating that he was caught off guard by the special meeting that was scheduled for the garbage contract bids. He said he was not aware that a decision on who would be awarded the contract would be made during that meeting.

Williams then handed out copies of the original letter that was sent out to City Sanitation when bids were first opened, along with a copy of Emery County Sanitation bid and a new five year bid from City Sanitation to all who were present at the city meeting. Williams argued that it was reported in the original letter that was sent to City Sanitation that it would be a three-year contract.

Williams further argued if he had been aware of it being a five-year contract instead of a three-year contract it would have definitely changed the numbers.

Council member Trent Jackson stated that Williams could not change the numbers now from the night the original bid was opened. Williams countered that if the council would look at option two his bid was the lowest bid. It was argued by the council that option two should have just been thrown out; the bid was open for interpretation because it was lacking any hard numbers.

There was some concern expressed by the public during the meeting that a more detailed letter had been sent out to Emery County Sanitation. Ferron City Treasurer, Tami Bennett reported that the only information that was sent to Emery County Sanitation was information that City Sanitation already had. The council continued to question and discuss the number of roll offs, the cost of those roll offs and whether or not those records were tracked by Emery County Landfill.

After lengthy discussion the question was posed by the council that if Williams was aware of it being a five year contract, would his numbers have changed. Williams answered by saying, “No, but I would sure like another shot at it after three years”. The council then asked Kent Wilson, owner of Emery County Sanitation if he would be willing to re-open the bids up in three years. Wilson stated that he would like to think about it for a day before making a decision. Wilson went on to say he thought he could find City Sanitation’s original bid that was broken down as a five-year contract, he further stated that he had purchased $100,00 of equipment and had placed the bid in good faith.

During discussion it was reported by city council that originally it had been thought that they could award the bid to whomever they wanted. Legal council later advised that the city had to legally award the contract to the lowest bid.

Council member Ronny Bloomer stated that he felt bad that an error had been made in the award of the contract during the first meeting; that he realized that both companies had a lot to lose if the contract were to be given to the other. He went on to say that, unfortunately whatever had happened during the other meetings, the council was legally bound to award to the lowest bidder, which was Emery County Sanitation. Council member Jackson ended by saying, “We are held to the lowest bid, the lowest bid is Emery County Sanitation and unfortunately that’s the end of the discussion”.

Williams then asked about the possibilities of opening up the contract for bid again in three years, saying there was no doubt in his mind that the service would be the same and that he was sure he would be the low bid and he would love to be back. The council said that was something they would have to discuss with legal council, but they could see Williams point.

Williams concluded by stating that Ferron residents needed to have their garbage cans on the street for garbage pick up on Aug. 29.  The cans would be dumped and then be picked up on Aug. 31. Any garbage put into the cans between the Aug. 29 and Aug. 31 will be dumped before the cans are picked up so that City Sanitation can fulfill their contract through Aug. 31.

The Council finished by thanking City Sanitation for their service and followed up by saying that the council would speak to legal council about the contract being re-opened for bid in three years.

Commission approves $6,000 raise for deputy county attorney

During the Aug. 5 meeting of the Emery County Commission, county attorney David Blackwell requested a $6,000 a year pay increase for deputy county attorney Brent Langston.

Blackwell indicated that Langston has more than 22 years experience as a prosecutor and during his time with the county he has had no significant pay increase.  Currently Langston’s salary is second only to Blackwell’s in the county.  The deputy county attorney makes an annual salary of $72,134, according to the website utahsright.com, which details, among other things, the salaries of government employees and other public information records.

Langston’s pay raise would be prorated for this year and Blackwell indicated that the funds for his raise this year could come from drug seizure funds.

The commission approved the pay raise request.  Last December the commission likewise approved a $6,000 annual pay raise for all elected officials in the county.

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Network
© The Emery County Review 2008   .
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

  

 

 

 

2007 Archives

January 1, 2008 Edition

January 8, 2008 Edition

January 15, 2008 Edition

January 22, 2008 Edition

January 29, 2008 Edition

February 5, 2008 Edition

February 12, 2008 Edition

February 19, 2008 Edition

February 26, 2008 Edition

March 4, 2008 Edition

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March 25, 2008 Edition

April 1, 2008 Edition

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April 22, 2008 Edition

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May 6, 2008 Edition

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May 20, 2008 Edition

May 27, 2008 Edition

June 3, 2008 Edition

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July 22, 2008 Edition

July 29, 2008 Edition

August 5, 2008 Edition

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

  

 
  • Achievements
  • Birthdays
  • Missionaries
  • Tributes

 

 

Miss Peach Days Crowned

The 2008 Miss and Junior Miss Peach Days Pageant were held Aug. 16 at the Emery High School with the beach theme, “Fun in the Sun.” 
Those competing for Junior Miss Peach Days Pageant were McKayla Worthen, Kodi Caldwell, Whitney Withers, Kiley Jensen, Makaila Clark, and Brittnee Murdoch. 
Contestants in the Miss Peach Days Pageant were Kaitlen Caldwell, Natalee Sorensen and Kaitlin Potter.
The girls were interviewed by the judges previous to the performance and they also participated in on-stage question, talent, and evening gown competitions.  The winner of Junior Miss Peach Days was Kiley Jensen, with first attendant McKayla Worthen and second attendant Brittnee Murdoch. 
Kaitlin Potter was crowned Miss Peach Days with first attendant Kaitlen Caldwell and second attendant Natalee Sorensen.

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Marjorie Ungerman Nielson

The children of Marjorie Ungerman Nielson (the late Carolyn Holdaway, Tom and Loyette Holdaway, Boyd and Mary Ellen Nielson, Connie and Scott Roundy, Wayne and Teresa Nielson, Ralph and Loretta Nielson, and Diane and Kent Procarione) would like to invite all family and friends to join them in honoring her on the occasion of her 80th birthday on Aug. 23, from 5-7 p.m. at her home in Huntington (96 East 300 North). No gifts please.

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Elder Darrin Winn

Elder Darrin Winn returns home Aug. 21, after serving in the Washington, Everett Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He will be speaking in Sacrament meeting on Aug. 24 at 9 a.m. in the Orangeville 2nd Ward Chapel.
Elder Winn is the son of Randy and Janice Winn of Orangeville.  His parents, along with his many siblings and a plethora of nieces and nephews are excitedly awaiting his return.  Please come and join with us in celebrating his homecoming.

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Clyde Ray Cox
1910- 2008

Our beloved father and grandfather, Clyde Ray Cox, age 98, quietly passed away Sunday, August 17, 2008 at the Emery County Care Center in Ferron, Utah, surrounded by his four children.  Clyde was born July 31, 1910 in Fairview, Utah to Lyman Ray and Anna Dora Christensen Cox.  He spent his life farming and also mining for the American Fuel Company.   He married Lola Beth Nyberg on December 11, 1945 in Salt Lake City.  They later divorced.
Clyde had a witty sense of humor and was an exceptionally hard worker who always put others before himself. He recently enjoyed celebrating his 98th birthday surrounded by family and friends.  His greatest joy in life was his family - he had a special love for his children and grandchildren.  He was our constant pillar of strength and an endless example of gratitude in all things great or small.  He always found the positive in life and never uttered a complaint, even in the most difficult of situations.  He will be greatly missed by all those who love him. 
Clyde was the oldest World War II veteran in Emery and Carbon counties.  He served as an Army Ranger and was a member of the 81st Infantry “Wildcat” Division, which fought in the Pacific Theater.  He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Clyde is survived by his children and their spouses: Judy (John) Clement, Springville; Clayton (Jerri Lynn), Helper; Scot (Troy), Castle Dale; and Marquita (Phillip) Cox, Orangeville; 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.  Also survived by brother Loyal and sisters Opal Webb and Myrle Elwood. 
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2008 at the Elmo LDS Church.  Friends and family may call Wednesday evening, August 20 for a viewing from 6-8 p.m. at the Fausett Mortuary in Castle Dale and at the church in Elmo 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services.  Interment will be at the Orangeville City Cemetery.  Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary.

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Kerry B. Nielson

ELMO - Kerry B. Nielson passed away August 14, 2008, at the age of 58, at his home after a courageous battle with brain cancer which he fought till the end.  He was born August 4, 1950, in Price, Utah to Clair T. and Beverly Tuttle Nielson.  He Married Vickie Nourse on August 8, 1969 in Price, Utah, Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple on April 8, 1988.
Kerry enjoyed being in the outdoors especially with his family, he loved Joe’s Valley, horseback riding, four-wheeling, rock hunting, and his yearly hunting trips.  He was a member of the LDS church and worked for Utah Power up until his retirement.  He will be remembered as a loving son, husband, father, and grandfather.
Survived by his wife Vickie, and children: Troy C. (Nicky) Nielson of Elmo, Stephanie (Wayne) Huntsman of Ferron, Stacie (Allen) Jensen of Castle Dale, and Rebecca (Chad) Norton of Huntington, mother: Beverly Nielson of Huntington, two brothers: Ken P. (Lynell) Nielson of Huntington, Chris “Bettos” (Merilyn) Nielson of Orangeville, and sister: Shelly (Lewis) Gilpin of Orangeville and ten grandchildren.
Preceded in death by father: Clair T. Nielson, father-in-law: Leon J. Nourse, grandparents: Fred and Louise Tuttle. 
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 19,  at 11 a.m. at the Elmo LDS chapel (199 East Main). A viewing was held on August 18 at the Elmo LDS ward and  Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in the Huntington City Cemetery.  Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary

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Linda Gonzales

HELPER-Gladys Linda Gonzales, affectionately known to many  as “Grandma Linda”, died August 13, 2008 at her home from Alzheimer’s.  She passed away peacefully from a broken heart after the death of her son Richard in June of 2005.  At the time of her passing she was surrounded by her loving daughter Gloria, beloved granddaughter Julie, and our new dear friend, Anita Salazar
She was born in Eaton, Colorado on April 16, 1919 to Macidonia Trujillo, and later adopted by Louis Gonzales and his wife.  Very little is known about her childhood, other than she was born of Spanish and Greek ancestry.
In 1938 she married Lino Gonzales in Raton, New Mexico and together they shared 50 years of marriage before his passing on March 20, 1988.
She had many roles in life, but her most honorable one was that of a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She loved her Catholic faith and the parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Helper.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She leaves behind her daughter, Gloria Regis of Helper; granddaughter, Julie (Jon) Meine, of Ohio; beloved daughter-in-law, JoAnn Gonzales, and her grandchildren, Matt Ramirez, Mariaelena Montoya, Lino (Stephanie) Gonzales, and Benita (Mat) Brewer.  She is also grandma to Callie Allgood, 17 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter, all of Salt Lake City; and four brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.
Preceded in death by her husband Lino, son, Richard; and great-granddaughter Jessica Montoya.
Funeral Mass was Aug. 18 at St. Anthony Catholic Church.  Committal service, was at Mt. View Cemetery in Helper.  Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 5 South Main, Helper, Utah 84526.

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Montell Seely

CASTLE DALE – Montell Seely, 74,  passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, during a handcart expedition in Fairview, Utah. He was born February 5, 1934, in Castle Dale, Utah, the fourth of six children born to Karl A. Seely and Cora Guymon Seely. He married Kathryn Pincock, August 27, 1963, in the Idaho Falls Temple, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
He grew up and attended school in Castle Dale and Ferron, where he was active in athletics and leadership of FFA and served as studentbody president at South Emery High School, class of 1952. He lived in Emery County all his life, except for a few years in Logan and Provo to attend college, and in North Carolina 1954-56 to serve an LDS Mission in the Central Atlantic States. In 1965 he graduated from BYU with a BS degree in Animal Science. While at BYU, he was a member of the Ballroom Dance Team and enjoyed ballroom and square dancing for many years. For 4 years the family lived in Orangeville. In 1970 they returned to Provo, where Montell earned a Masters degree in 1972 and was employed in the counseling department at Provo High for 3 years. In June, 1975, while moving the family back to Castle Dale, Montell was involved in a serious accident beneath a mobile home. The family returned to Provo during his hospitalization and recovery which lasted through the summer. Kind friends assisted with the farming until he was fully recovered. 
Montell was engaged in farming and livestock ranching all his life. He enjoyed running his farm that was originally homesteaded by his grandfather, Justus Wellington Seely II. An early interest in pioneers and the westward movement of the Saints in 1847 prompted him to acquire wagons and buggies and the work horses to pull them. He became friends with several Amish families and enjoyed their association as he worked with them in their fields with horses and old-fashioned equipment. In 1977 he organized a ward/community trek over the mountain from Fairview to Castle Dale. In 1978 he formed a committee to produce a pageant to tell the story of the first settlers who came to Castle Valley. Performed annually, the Castle Valley Pageant completed its 31st season on August 9.
After Montell wrote the script for the pageant, he pursued other writing ventures, including a large Emery County History in 1981, Seely History books in 1988 and 1996, and Castle Valley Pageant History in 2003. He kept a daily personal journal from 1976 until the day of his passing.
Montell is survived by his wife Kathryn; son-in-law, Brant James, Adams, Oregon; children: Karla (Thane) Thalman, Surprise, AZ; Fawn (Tim) Miller, Manti; LeAnne Seely, Castle Dale; Mark (Brenda) Seely, West Valley City; and Janell (Kyle) Beagley, Price; sisters, Betty Jane Poulsen, Provo, and Dorothy (Gary) Barlow, Bountiful; brothers, Guy Seely, Clawson, and James (Joyce) Seely, Centerville; nineteen grandchildren: Brandon, Emilie, and Ryan James; KariElle, Edison, Audrey, and Peyton Thalman; Dakota, Hunter, Cassidy, Ridge, and Brooke Miller; Hannah, Jonathan, Matthew, and Luke Seely; Jannika, Kirsten, and Clarissa Beagley; and Aadopted@ family, Mani and Lippa Grewal and daughter Shehnoor, Fairview.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Thomas; daughter Valerie Seely James; and daughter Monette Seely, who died as an infant.
Funeral services: Saturday, August 16, at 11 a.m. at Castle Dale Stake Center. Visitation on Friday, August 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary, 720 N. Center, Castle Dale and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45 at Castle Dale Stake Center. Interment in the Castle Dale cemetery, under the direction of Fausett Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Justus Azel Seely Family Organization, c/o Dal Seely, 4253 S. 2785 West, West Valley City, UT 84119; or Sons of Utah Pioneers, 3301 East 2920 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84109.

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Paul G. Snow

FERRON -  Paul G. Snow, 69,  of Ferron, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at his home.  Paul was born July 8, 1939 in Ferron, Utah the youngest of six children born to Perry E and Pauline Oveson Snow. 
Paul grew up and attended school in Ferron, graduating from South Emery High In 1957.  During his High School days Paul played the Baritone.  Following school Paul married Emilee Conover on July 8, 1957 in Ely, Nevada, they spent 51 wonderful years together.  Paul lived most of his life in Ferron and Taylorsville, and as he got older he became a snow bird in the winter months, spending time in Beaver Dam, AZ.  Paul worked at the local Power Plants for 30 years before his retirement 18 years ago.  He enjoyed fishing, taking his grandchildren and great grandchildren tubing from the boat.  Most of all he loved being with his family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Paul had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to talk with everyone, one could say that he never met a stranger.
Paul is survived by his wife, Emilee, children, Gregory P. Snow of Ferron and Sheila S. (Jamie) Phillips of Orangeville, 8 grandchildren, 
4 great grandchildren, and 2 step great grandchildren, brothers, Gene Austine (JoAnn) Snow of Orangeville, Kirk (Helen) Snow of West Valley City and Brent (Arlene) Snow of Maricopa, AZ.  He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Ray P. Snow, grandson, Brandon Phillips, brother, Ludene P. Snow and sister Geneva Tuttle.
Graveside services were Aug. 18, 2008 at the Ferron City Cemetery.  Services were in the care of Fausett Mortuary.

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Earl R. Olsen
1915-2008

EMERY / SALT LAKE CITY - Earl R. Olsen, age 92, passed from this life at his home on Thursday, August 14, 2008, surrounded by his family.  He was born December 23, 1915 in Emery, Utah to Raymond and Eudean Olsen.  Earl married Dixie Lois Cook in the Manti Temple on October 3, 1939.  They made their home in Emery and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Earl and Dixie have six children; Lee (deceased), Duane, Iris, Kenneth, Vern and Earlene, 19 grandchildren and 56 great grandchildren.  Earl was a rancher, and also worked as a coal miner in Carbon and Emery counties.
He served in numerous church callings including: High councils and Stake presidencies for 22 years, temple ordinance worker and sealer in numerous temples- including being President of the Manti Temple and President of the Family History Branch for nine years.
Earl’s loving wife Dixie supported him through out all their married life.  They were married 69 years.
Funeral services were August 16, 2008 in the Ensign Stake Center, 135 A Street, Salt Lake City.  Graveside services were at the Emery City Cemetery.

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Barbara Westbrook

PRICE- Our loving mother, grandmother, and beloved sister, Barbara Fay Oviatt Westbrook, age 84, passed away at her home at the Parkdale Care Center in Price on Aug. 13, 2008.
She was born Aug. 1, 1924 in Elmo, Utah to Charles and Ada Olsen Oviatt.
Married Walter L. Westbrook, October 24, 1942 in Syracuse, Kansas; he died July 29, 1995.
Barbara was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she was active in  Relief Society for many years.  She loved taking care of her family and for the past twenty years  was blessed with many wonderful caretakers.  Barbara will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Survived by three sons and one daughter, Walter Herbert Westbrook, Massachusetts, James (Leah) Westbrook, Salt Lake City, Lucille Houskeeper, Price, Richard (Ida) Westbrook, Wellington; brother, Roy (Celia) Oviatt, Elmo; sister-in-law, Dawna Oviatt, Wellington; 18 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her parents,  husband of 53 years, Walter Westbrook; son, Charles Raymond Westbrook; son-in-law, Skip Houskeeper; four brothers, Harv, Rex, Que and Clinton Oviatt; and a sister, Helen Baldwin.
Graveside service was Aug. 16, 2008, at the Price City Cemetery. 

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

  

 
  • Animal Life
  • Business
  • Health

 

 

August 5, 2008

From Puppies to Lizards: 
What Makes a Pet?

Colleen Davis

When beginning this article, the first thing I did was look for the definition of pet. Well some of what I found was that a pet or companion animal is: an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for other reasons. Pets also seem to provide their owners with health benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress for those who like having animals around. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air and social interaction.

My research also revealed that for thousands of years people from all different places and cultures around the world cared for some animals simply because the liked them. Sometimes it was because of the way they looked, felt or the sounds they made. Some people chose the pet they had because of the status having such a creature gave them. Some animals are just good company and show an attachment to people.

Pet is a word that started appearing in the English language as early as the 1600s. Pets are generally not expected to work for their keep and they are not eaten. People have been using animals for hundreds of years in many ways. Dogs have been used for generations as guards, for hunting, and herding, but as time has passed, dogs have been kept as companions and playmates. Then and now most family dogs are not purebreds although they still are recognized as retrievers, spaniels terriers, shepherds, hounds, and other types. Their looks reflect the kinds of dogs that are living in the community.  At first domestic dogs appeared to have been similar in appearance. As civilization proceeded, dogs began to evolve so they could perform various functions in the community. Some were used to work with stock, while others served as guards. The selective breeding to develop dogs with deliberate physical traits began about 150 years ago. Today there are about 300 different breeds throughout the world.

Cats were first introduced to help keep rodents and vermin away. What farmers from centuries ago saw and realized is that the crops and grains attracted vermin and rodents. The vermin then attracted cats. The farmers then started encouraging the cats to stay by leaving out food that would attract them. Since they had a source of food. They moved in on a permanent basis. Being a naturally calm animal just as are feral cats today, they first started allowing people to approach them to be petted and then eventually to be held.

What have been considered “children’s perfect pets”, are rabbits, mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs, because they were easy to care for, didn’t have a long lifespan and are generally gentle. Chickens have also been considered to be a perfect backyard pet for some of the same reasons; they are easy to care for and are gentle and friendly.

One of the most recent changes in the types of pets have been reptiles: lizards, snakes and turtles. One reason for this is because people are able to care for them, but also because a large number of our society finds lizards and snakes both dangerous and repulsive.

Keeping a pet takes a lot of work and dedication, and involves a number of practices. These include providing the animal with a special diet or food, playing with it, giving it adequate shelter and sometimes even allowing it to live in our home or sit on the furniture or your lap. And one of the most important practices in having a pet is caring for it when it is sick or injured.
As I stated earlier pets have been part of our lives for hundreds of years and we continue to debate what our responsibilities are to them. The issues are difficult and opinions vary. Americans for the most part value their pets as companions and associate them with their happiness.

Pet owners include the family pet as a part of their family life. They are included in family portraits, family vacations, holidays and also when buying gifts. Some pet owners celebrate their birthdays, and when the time comes they have a memorial service to mark the end of their life. Over time pets have become an important part of many of our lives, whether it has been a faithful pet or just one that we are used to having in the yard.

So the question again is “what is a pet”? Well a pet  in short is an animal that is a companion and brings us comfort, joy and in general helps us to be happy.

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June 17, 2008

Wilderness Program up and Running in Huntington

Josie Luke

Many residents of Emery County appreciate the surrounding area because of the ability they have to have two very different environments in such close proximity, with the Manti la Sal Mountains to the west and the San Rafael Swell to the east; this also made the area a perfect place for a group of entrepreneurs looking for an area to run a wilderness therapy program.

Elements Wilderness Program is one of the newest businesses to select Emery County as the place to base their operations. With an office in Huntington, the program is now up and running, and began accepting clients on May 30.

Wilderness therapy is emerging as a viable alternative option for the treatment of youth. It incorporates group and individual therapy with the opportunity for youth to learn how to take care of themselves and cooperate with others while working through challenges in an unfamiliar environment.

 Program Director Karen Hesselman described the group’s reasons for selecting the area. “Our first thought was that we’d like to be a little bit closer to our home, Salt Lake, but there really was nothing remote that would work. The elevation was a problem because we need two different field areas, one for summer and one for winter,” she said.

“So, Huntington and Emery County, this strip along Highway 10, was perfect because you have the Forest on one side and you have the Swell on the other. This is really nice, just being in between the two different field areas. ”

She also explained another benefit to the location-- safety, saying, “The time it will take for us to get to the group on either side is quick and that is a big deal for us for safety. It seems like the perfect fit.”

The partners in the business are Hesselman, Admissions Director John Karren, and Clinical Director Lynn Smith. All have previous experience with similar programs. They joined to organize a program they believe will benefit those adolescents who are involved. “We want to go back to the real wilderness piece, as in using the outdoors as a therapy tool, getting rid of all the distractions,” Hesselman stated.  

The Field Director Dan Shorb explained their program’s approach. “This program is smaller and we’re trying to specialize by dealing with less, what we would call, clinical kids, meaning, students that aren’t acting out as much as others in other programs,” he said. “I think our specialization is really a kind of a symbol of where this genre of educational programs has gone. From its real roots of being kind of boot camp style, to now where its gone to the other extreme to where its very therapeutic and very clinical.”

In this light, in the program the youth are referred to as students and staff are called field mentors. For every group of 10 students, there are four field mentors assigned. The field mentors will work with the students for eight days and then have six days off, with a another group of mentors alternating in each week.     

Most students will be referred to the program through an educational consultant who is versed in the many different treatment types and treatment providers, and selects a specific program according to the needs of the client. Parents can also find such programs online. Information on the Elements program can be found at www.elementswilderness.com.

Hesselman also revealed that it took a great deal of time to get permits and licenses in hand for the group to finally be able to open such a business in the area. A license had to be granted from the state, a business license from the city, and permits from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.  

She related, “It would come and go, one day it would be really exciting and I would think ‘everything’s working perfectly,’ and then the next day, you’re just totally depressed and depleted because there would be another glitch. It was up and down a lot, but everything seems to be working out now that we’re up and running.”

Hesselman and her partners are pleased to be in the area and plan to look to the community for support. “We still need a lot of local support to make it happen. We will need more employees as we start to go, so I hope everyone is open to what we have to offer and know that we are very interested in bringing the community into what we’re doing. We do want to know the community and use the resources and hopefully they’re accepting,” she said.

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April 22, 2008

Medical Reserve Corps Looking for Volunteers

Josie Luke

After President George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country, the Medical Reserve Corps was organized. The local unit, the Southeastern Utah MRC is currently looking for volunteers.

“MRC units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources,” the MRC website explains.

The SEUMRC is organized under the Southeastern Utah Health Department and is currently looking for doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, veterinarians, mental health professionals, pharmacists, dentists and emergency personnel, including firefighters, EMTs and police, along with anyone else who is willing to help in an emergency.

“We are looking for people who are willing to do what needs to be done,” explained Cynthia Grant, SEUMRC Coordinator. “Basically, the people we can use is anyone who is willing to work in an emergency situation and who is dedicated and willing enough to give back to the community that they would do that without getting paid.”

Those who would volunteer for the SEUMRC, would be those who would not already be involved, including those who are retired, not working full-time, working in another field, or not currently working.

Some of the situations Grant sees the SEUMRC volunteers working in are in circumstances like the Crandall Canyon mine disaster, or in the event of a pandemic, flood or earthquake. In such instances, they could help to shelter those involved, provide for medical and physical needs, assist with communications, or anything else that was needed.

Grant said the group is just getting off the ground, but eventually, she would like to see a group of 12 to 20 volunteers in each county, with over 70 percent being lay people, without much medical experience. The program will also have a team leader in each county, who would be paid for five to 10 hours a month. In a team leader, Grant said she is looking for someone with strong people skills, who would take initiative and “quickly catch the vision of the MRC”.

The MRC is designed to be of service in the community in which it is located, and so unlike the Red Cross, the MRC has much more flexibility in how it is organized and how volunteers are used.

Grant sees volunteers supporting local health initiatives and any other community event where medical experience might be needed. She revealed that in some instances, like the bus accident last year near Blanding, people were needed to “just comfort people who were involved”, or to help with logistics and record keeping.

Volunteers would need to go through required trainings in eight core competencies, including training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which trains volunteers on how to react in emergencies. The trainings can be taken online and according to Grant, won’t require a huge amount of time.

For questions about the Medical Reserve Corps, or to volunteer, contact Grant at (435)748-2997, on her cell phone at- (435)749-2998, or email her at cgrant@utah.gov.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

  

 

 

 

Huge Yard Sale

Clawson Town Hall is sponsoring a multi residential yard sale on Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Many Emery County residents will be selling everything from fishing gear to furniture and more.  Be the first to arrive for the best picks.  It’s a short drive with plenty of parking, so don’t miss it.  Clawson Town Hall is located at Clawson’s South Main Street entrance.  It’s easy to find just drive through Clawson and you’re there.  If you would like to participate in the yard sale, please call 820-1020.

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Cowboy Poetry Night

The Emery County Historical Society and Castle Valley Ranch invites you to join them for their annual Cowboy Poetry Night at Castle Valley Outdoors on Emery’s Muddy Creek, Aug. 28, at 6:30 p.m. You are invited to a night of cowboy poetry by Kent Petersen, poetry by local cowboy poets, music by Desert Rose and Dutch oven cobbler and ice cream.
To reach Castle Valley Outdoors, leave from the south side of Ferron, mile post  25. Travel south on SR-10.  Proceed south past the Moore exit, over the new Muddy Creek Bridge.  Turn left on the next road at the gate with the sign “Castle Valley Outdoors.”
To arrive from Emery, travel north on SR-10 for approximately. 2.5 miles until you come to the gate with the sign “Castle Valley Outdoors.”  It is recommended that everyone bring a folding chair, bug spray and a coat. Come and enjoy an evening of entertainment with the Emery County Historical Society. Yearly dues are $5 and help to sponsor these events. The San Rafael Swell books as well as others will be for sale during the evening.

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Peach Days Idol

Emery County Care and Rehabilitation Center will present a Peach Days Idol contest on Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. The age groups for contestants will be 8-12; 13-17; and 18 and up.  There will be a $50 cash prize in each group. Call the care center, 384-2301, to sign up.

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Arapeen ATV
Jamboree

The Arapeen ATV Jamboree, sponsored by the Emery County Recreation District, Southeastern Utah OHV Club and Emery County Chamber of Commerce, will take place Sept. 1-5.  You must register by Aug. 20 to take part. The registration fee is $120 per rider.  The registration fee covers meals, trail fees, entertainment, a T-shirt, and guided tours.  The Jamboree offers 17 different rides, along with a training ride for beginners.  All rides will be at least 30 miles long.  Helmets will be required for all riders under 18 and are encouraged for all who take part in the Jamboree.  For more information and to register for the Jamboree please visit www.atvutah.com/arapeen.

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Farmers Market

The Farmers Market will begin July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Price Peace Gardens.  Come out and gather up your fresh produce from your local farmers.

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Images of the San Rafael

The College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum Gallery is presenting Images of the San Rafael by Stephanie Massie Clark through Sept. 30.
The artist’s inspiration for the watercolors in the show came from the ancient rock art found at Buckhorn Wash, the Rochester Panel, Nine Mile and Sinbad.
Clark’s work can be viewed at the museum’s second floor gallery. General admission fees apply

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Emery County Recreation
Information

We hope the following information will be helpful to the public.  Office hours for Emery County Recreation are 9 a.m. to  1 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m.  The office phone number is 435-381-2108 or toll free 1-888-601-8075 PIN 1399.  Fax is 435-381-2194.  The office is located at 75 South 400 East, Castle Dale.  Website address: emerycounty.com/rec.  Board member representatives are: Kalynn Fail, Green River; Ryan Jensen, Elmo; Richard Murdoch, Cleveland; Cathy Cowley, Huntington; Dan Whiteleather, Castle Dale; Bart Cox, Orangeville; Jerry Price, Clawson; Jordan Leonard, Ferron; Marie Anderson, Emery; John Nielson, At Large; Jim Jones, At Large; Commissioner Drew Sitterud, At Large.  Recreation director, Shannon Hiatt.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here
'

 

  

 

 

 

Emery gets ready for football season

James L. Davis

Spartan football returned to Emery County Aug. 16, as the annual Black and Gold game pitted Spartan against Spartan in a friendly exhibition game to get the team ready for the season.
With Coach Jimmy Jones observing, the assistant coaching staff split the team in two.  The varsity players took the field in the first and third quarters and the junior varsity players controlled the field in the second and fourth quarters.
Offensively, the Gold team dominated in the first half as they racked up a commanding 19-0 lead to go into halftime.
In the second half, the Black team was able to shut down the Gold team’s offense and denied them another score for the rest of the game, while marching down to score a touchdown of their own.  But in the end, the Black team couldn’t seem to find the push to catch up to the Gold team and the Black and Gold game ended with a final score of 19-6.
The Spartan’s first game of the season will be Aug. 22 against Grand.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 34
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

  

 
  • Dazed
  • Casey's Pockets
  • Swell Recipies
  • Swell Books

 

 

-Dazed-

A Mouse, a Rabbit and a Hamburger

James L. Davis

My dad has seen a lot in his 80 years and sometimes it amazes me to think about how much the world has changed since he was born.  I wonder what he really thinks of this strange new world he has watched grow up around him.  Does it frighten him, I wonder?  Does it worry him?  

The answer to those questions is, nope, I don’t think it does.  But I do think the world confuses him sometimes.  I say this because in a great many respects my dad has progressed along with the rest of the world, but in other ways he stubbornly refuses to believe the world is moving forward.

I say this because not too long ago I discovered that when I am not in my office my dad likes to come in and make himself at home.  Apparently he likes my desk. I discovered this because a while back we had a family reunion and during this family reunion my older brother came home for a visit.  He had not been home for a number of years and since he was home my dad felt there was a need to give my brother a tour of the greater Orangeville metropolitan area (meaning Food Ranch to Jim Fauver’s house and selected points in-between).  This tour took roughly 12 minutes.  Not satisfied with the tour’s length, my dad took my brother to my office and showed him around.

My office is right across the driveway from my house, which is convenient because on days when I have to work late I can stumble across the driveway in my pajamas and not frighten the neighbors.  When my dad brought my brother to the office for a tour I was not there, but my children were right across the driveway and so they came over to see what their grandpa and uncle were up to.

They found my dad sitting at my desk, playing with my toys and telling my brother that he could pretty much ruin my day if he pushed the wrong button on my computer.

My brother agreed that he could ruin my day if he pushed the wrong button on the computer, but apparently neither of them were inclined to ruin my day, because they didn’t touch any of buttons on the keyboard.

After a few minutes my dad informed my brother that he didn’t really understand computers at all.  He picked up the mouse off of the computer desk and informed my older brother that while he didn’t understand computers, he did know what that little contraption was called.

“It’s called a rabbit,” my dad said.  At about this point my children began to laugh and informed my dad that no, it was not called a rabbit, it was called a mouse.

“Well, I knew it was named after some little animal,” my dad replied.

When my children informed me that my dad had been sitting at my desk, playing with my toys and calling my computer mouse a rabbit, I began to wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, my dad was pulling our leg.  But I realized that he wasn’t pulling our leg in thinking that a computer mouse was a rabbit because in the scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter to him.  Home computers are not a part of his world now and he has no intention of making them a part of his world in the future.

I suspect that he still holds a grudge against personal computers for putting an end to his typewriter repair business, but it may not be that.  It just might be that he is so grounded in the real world that the thought of a digital world holds about as much interest to him as a mouse…or a rabbit.

Growing up, I remember my dad telling me that he did not have the luxury of indoor plumbing in his house until he was 19 years old.  And he called it a luxury.  If indoor plumbing was a luxury to him, then what is the equivalent today?  To me a luxury is something you can do without and indoor plumbing is not something I can do without.  In my world I don’t think DVR is something I can do without anymore.

My dad also remembers the first time he had something called a hamburger sandwich.  He was in his late teens when that occurred as well.

Growing up a farm boy in North Carolina, he would get to town from time to time for a little excitement, and on this particular occasion he had stopped at a diner for a bite to eat when he saw a sign advertising a hamburger sandwich.  So he thought he would give one a try.

“It was about the best sandwich I had ever tasted,” my dad remembers, and you can still see the hint of wonder he must have felt when biting into this new meal called a hamburger.

I don’t know if I have an equivalent to the kind of experiences my dad had.  I don’t know that I look at things in my world with the same sense of wonder.  But I think I know why a computer is not a big deal to him.  To him a computer is just a glorified typewriter because it isn’t something he really needs in his life.  So while computers may be interesting contraptions to the rest of the world, he could take or leave them, with or without a mouse…or a rabbit.  They don’t hold a candle to indoor plumbing or a hamburger sandwich.

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-Casey's Pockets-

The Madness of Teenage Girls

Casey Wood

Having both an older sister and a younger sister and the fact that I have been around teenage girls for the last six years of school, I have learned that teenage girls are a lot of things, and crazy tops the list. 

Not only do they do crazy things, but they think that they are acting completely normal, when in fact they are making guys question their sanity.  I don’t know if they are in denial, or if they are just oblivious to what normal really is.

The craziest thing about teenage girls is their friendships.  For guys when you make a friend, unless something goes extremely wrong, you’ve made a friend pretty much for life, or at least until one of you move.  It is not at all like this for girls.  If one girl says the wrong thing to another, for example “I don’t like those shoes,” or “I like the boy you used to like,” the friendship is put on an extended, sometimes permanent hiatus.  That’s not all that can end friendships for girls though.  If one girl makes friends with another girl and the first girl’s friends don’t like the new girl, or if one girl doesn’t have as fashionable clothes as the others, the friendship will undoubtedly end.

Another crazy thing about teenage girls is how much they care about their appearance.  Have you ever asked one how long it takes them to get ready in the morning?  Many say two to three hours.  I once asked a girl why she needed that much time and her response was, “Well, I need about 45 minutes for my shower so I can shampoo and condition my hair twice, then I need at least 30 minutes to pick out an outfit, then another hour to do my make-up and hair and brush my teeth, and then I have to have a half hour to eat my breakfast, and then I have to come to school.”  Now let me tell you how much time I take in the morning.  Generally I shower at night, and I have to be at school by 7:25 for early bird, so I get up around 6:50, grab and put on some clothes, taking about 48 seconds, then I brush my teeth, put on deodorant and cologne, and do my hair, taking 10 minutes at the most, then I read my scriptures and leave home by 7:10.  So why, you ask do girls get up two hours earlier than me to get to school by 8:15?  I don’t know, probably the same reason girls can easily spend $1,000 school shopping when it takes $300 to $400 to pay for my clothes.  You always hear how crazy women are about shoes, but my question is why?  They are on your feet all day, therefore they probably don’t smell very good. You walk on them all day, you don’t look at them a lot, and many of the ‘fashionable’ ones are really uncomfortable, so why have five or six or 28 pairs of shoes laying around?  Probably the same reason they use tanning beds in winter when they wear jackets and long pants all the time anyway.

Now we all know the truth, teenage girls are nuts.  The thing that worries me is that us teenage boys are crazy about these crazy teenage girls.  Knowing that makes me question the sanity of us teenage boys, and so I’m not really too sure who’s crazier. I guess until I figure it out the battle of the sexes continues; one crazy teenager at a time.

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-Swell Recipes-

The ‘Scooter Lady’ Shares
Some Special Cake Recipes

Kathy Ockey

Karen and Dan Huntsman were both raised in Castle Dale, then married and moved away for 20 years.  Karen said they always wanted to move back “home,” and finally Dan’s employment brought them back to Emery County. 

Karen loves living in Castle Dale because it is home and she feels “safe.” She also has many family members that live nearby, including two sons that both work at the Huntington Power Plant.

Karen said several years ago Dan decided they needed to get motorcycles so they would have “something to do