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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 8 Volume VIII Issue VIII August 1, 2003 FIRES cont. from page 1 Education Fund Established for High Honor Student By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Smoke from Evergreen fire darkens the sky over east Huntsville. 351 Echo Victor helicopter fights Evergreen fire. Other Area Fires On July 22, a fire burned about 2½ miles above the Middle Fork trailhead, the result of faulty power lines. The fire was quickly contained. Power in the area was turned off, and a damaged power pole had to be replaced. Only about a quarter of an acre was consumed by the fire. Another fire, located just off the edge of the Wolf Creek Golf Course, where it abuts the Elkhorn Subdivision, caused a commotion for nearby residents, who quickly responded by turning on their sprinkler systems in an effort to keep the threatening flames at bay. Area golf course sprinklers were also activated. The call came into the Eden fire station at 5:51 p.m. on July 23 after paramedics in the area spotted the small grass fire. Firefighters Wolf Creek fire quickly extinguished. carrying pump packs on their backs extinguished the flames. Though Wolf Creek has instituted a smoking ban on the golf course, it is speculated that a hot cigarette butt ignited the fire that consumed about a quarter acre of weeds. Her name is Yelizaveta Voshchylo, though to her friends in Utah, she is known simply as Liza—the foreign exchange student from Ukraine. I met Liza for the first time at the Salt Lake International Airport almost a year ago. Though trying to look confident with her very proper posture as she came through the airport gates, I could see she was worn from her trip from half way around the world—an overnight train ride that first took her from her home in Khmelnitchina to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Then it was a long flight to America, with layovers in Germany and New York. Liza was to be the fourth exchange student our family had hosted through the years. We found her to be reserved, polite, and helpful. As with previous experiences, “adopting” an exchange student, especially for ten months, becomes a life changing experience for all involved. Within a week of her arrival, she was registering for school at Weber High. Her goals were high. She signed up for a number of difficult and challenging classes, many at the CP and AP (college and advanced placement) levels. My concerns deepened after school began as I watched her struggle with homework assignments, especially those that required a lot of reading. Though she spoke Ukrainian and English fluently, her native language is Russian. She would stay up late, night after night, sometimes until 4:00 a.m., English dictionary in hand, to ensure that her homework assignments were completed correctly. The level of discipline and conscientiousness that she maintained week after week, and month after month astounded me. I remembered back to the school years of my own children, and the frequency at which I would have to remind, encourage, challenge, cajole, and once in awhile, even bribe them to do their homework, or to redo a piece of homework because I knew they could do a better job. With Liza, it was the scene in reverse, at times I would have to remind, encourage, challenge, and cajole her—for the sake of her health—to quit focusing so intensely on her homework. I would tell her, “Remember, you need to find balance in life . . . your body does need sleep!” It was not uncommon for her to forego activities with friends in order to complete an assignment to her own high standards—no rush job here to get the homework done and out of the way! Her efforts were even more remarkable, considering the understanding she had that, most likely, the Weber School District would not allow her to graduate and walk across the stage with her peers in the spring. And back in Ukraine when she returned, the school system would not accept her Weber High transcript—she would have to retake LOCATED IN THE VALLEY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Dick Manley Realtor / Member of Eden Planning Committee 391-1800 Paul Judd 5460 E 2200 N Eden Utah Real Estate Done Right! Call (801) 745-6000 745-6000 Office 430-8100 Cell Manager/ Broker Sales Master/GRI Chairman OVBA Gary Bingham Member, Eden Planning Committee President, Patio Springs Home Owners Association 388-0607 Susan Hansen Realtor 710-3833 Wendy Anderson Realtor 430-7064 Nicole Kester Realtor 745-0290 Connected to the Community The Valley is our Business Yelizaveta (Liza) Voshchylo her senior year of school. Many recommended that she take easier classes, not work so hard, and to relax and enjoy her stay in America. But they didn’t know Liza very well. Her final transcript reflected her grades for the year—a 4.0 grade point average. She maintained all “A’s,” except for a sprinkling of A+’s she earned from teachers who were impressed with her level of work and dedication. Liza also participated in volunteer efforts throughout her stay in Ogden Valley. She made baby blankets for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services, collected food for an Ogden food bank on Halloween night while Trick or Treating for Food, made and filled Christmas stockings for those in need at Christmas time, cleaned litter off of the highways in Eden, and volunteered at the Children’s Treehouse Museum in Ogden. Liza came to America under the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX). FLEX was established in 1992, a program funded under the FREEDOM Support Act through funds from the U.S. Department of State and USAID. The program’s goal is to provide an opportunity for high school students from the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union to experience life in a democratic society. These students then return home with what they have learned about democratic ideals, and act as ambassadors, promoting democratic values and institutions in the former Soviet Union. Since 1993, close to 11,000 students from 12 NIS countries have participated and returned to their homes, integrating what they learned from their stay in America. But returning students most often face a bleak scenario. Most countries of the for- mer Soviet Union do not reward their most talented students. Leaders do not care about the potential a bright mind may bring to their country’s future. Graft and corruption still run rampant. Universities do not care what a student’s GPA or test scores reflect. In order for a student to be accepted into an institution of higher learning, especially those that offer the best educational opportunities, a student’s family has to pay large sums of money “under the table.” Even state operated institutions demand bribes. Usually only high ranking officials can pay the sums demanded in order for their children to attend, guaranteeing a perpetuation of corruption. Those who are not caught up in the ring of dishonesty, and making money—often illegally—are the “have nots,” and are not privy to the same rights— regardless of talent, intelligence, and hard work. Certainly there are no scholarship or grants to help these talented students. Liza had one dream of circumventing this ironclad, corrupt system. When she returned home, she wanted to take an entrance exam administered by a Western European ran accredited University located in Kiev, Ukraine. She understood that if she could pass the competitive examination, and obtain the funds to attend, many doors of opportunity would be open to her—without paying bribes. She would have hope for a brighter future. Last month part of her dream came true. Two weeks after returning home to Ukraine at the end of June, Liza traveled to Kiev to take the entrance exam along with hundreds of other hopeful students. After worrying for several months that she would not pass the test, she was shocked to discover that she had received the third highest score of all applicants. However, it did not surprise our family. We understand her potential. Tuition for this school runs $128 per month. After attending the university for one or two years, internships usually become available, helping to offset tuition costs. In the “Pay if Forward” tradition, I am undertaking an effort to help someone do something that they, at this time, can’t do for themselves. Liza and I agreed on a plan whereby I would help raise funds for her education. In return, someday—maybe not for ten, or even twenty years—she would pay the money forward. Instead of paying me back, she would contribute funds to a perpetual education fund, or scholarship fund. An education trust has been established for Liza at Zions Bank. Contributions can be made to the “Liza Voshchylo Donation” account at any Zions Bank branch. I am hoping to raise $1,500 by August 15, 2003. If you can help, a contribution of any amount would be helpful. Fire Restriction Notice 1871 North 1350 West Ogden, Utah 84404 (801) 782-3580 Effective Immediately! Due to the extremely dry conditions, the current weather forecast for continued dry conditions, the volatility of vegetation throughout Weber County, and the existing pressure on fire suppression resources, the Fire Marshal of the Weber Fire District has determined that restrictions in the use of fire and open flame, within the Weber Fire District service area, are warranted to reduce the potential for damaging and costly forest and range fires. Therefore, pursuant to Weber County Ordinance 2003-4, and section 307.2.2 of the International Fire Code 200 edition, therein adopted, the following acts are strictly prohibited on areas, roads, and trails described below and located within the Weber Fire District, and will remain in effect until rescinded by the Weber Fire Marshal: 1. Setting, building, maintaining, attending, or using open fires of any kind, including charcoal briquettes. Cooking, heating, or lighting devices fueled by petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are allowed. 2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building. 3. Discharging or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition, or other pyrotechnic devices. The following persons are exempt from the above: 1. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act in a specific location. 2. Any State or Federal Fire Officer or fire fighting forces in the performance of an official duty. Area Description All private and public lands east of SR89, starting at the mouth of Weber Canyon running north, north west to Harrison Blvd. East of Harrison Blvd. from SR89 to Mountain Road. North of 3300 North from Mountain Road to the Ogden Brigham Canal, and north of the Ogden Brigham Canal from 3300 North to SR89. Violation of the above prohibited acts is punishable as a class B misdemeanor. Sincerely, Ted Black, Fire Marshal |