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Show Opinions The Gunnison Valley Gazette Page 2 Bear Lake County Swap n' Shop Just A Thought By MARK HENLINE My father spent thirty two years in the Coast Guard reserves. During the summers of 1972 and 1973 dad was put in charge of the reservists annual two week. training. While dad held this position, the Coast Guard moved our family to Bear Lake in Northern Utah. Bear Lake is considered national waters because it borders two states, Utah and Idaho. So every two weeks, two reservists would show up and spend their time with dad patrolling the waters of Bear Lake. They would do boat safety checks, issue citations and help with rescue operations. After two weeks, the two reservists would go home and another two would come take their place. This went on all summer long for two straight summers. During this time our family, Dad, Mom and five small children, I was the oldest at 10, lived in a little 16' trailer and a tent on the beach at the State Park. It must have been a challenge for mom but for a 10 year old kid it was a grand adventure. I remember one thing I really loved doing, was listening to the radio station from Montpelier, Idaho on my little AM radio. Everyday they had local news events from the Bear Lake County Communities. Things like Grant and Roger Messerly traveled to Soda Springs this week to play in the county EMT golf tournament, or Spencer and Julie Larson are the proud, new parents of a 7 1b. baby boy, they are going to name him Sterling. After the local news they would have the advertising from places like King's Hardware or the Mountain Springs Hotel, or Peterson's Drive Inn, home of the Bear Lake Monster, a half pound hamburger patty. Then I would listen to hear what was playing at the movie theatres in the valley. Montpelier had a regular theatre and a drivein theatre. I remember seeing "Charlie and the Angel" starring Fred McMurray at the drive in. Then down the road in the small town of Paris, they had a theatre where I first saw "The Sound of Music". My favorite radio program of the day was called Bear Lake County Swap N' Shop. This was a live show where people would call in and try and buy or sell things over the radio. You would hear things like, "Hello, this is Beverly Johnson from St. Charles, my number is 555-1273 and I'm selling a used baby crib for only $20." Another caller would say, "This is Burt Davis from Ovid, my son David is getting married next week and I'm looking to buy a used washer and dryer to help him get started in life. If you have a washer/dryer pair, please call me." Swap N1 Shop played on the radio everyday, Monday - Friday and I loved listening to it. Listening to the radio Trips to the highcountry everyday, I feel, is where I really started falling in love Living the Outdoor with small towns. These Lifestyle were real people talking about real things in their lives. To the rest of the world it probably looked and sounded like foolishness or at least it was of little concern. But to the good people of these small towns, it was everyday life. I guess that's why it gets under'my skin when I hear By C R A I G PAYNE people make fun or belittle small town happenings and events. I read an article in On our Sunday evening drive, "Salt Lake Magazine" reKerri and I marvel at the sights cently putting down homeand sounds of summer. People town papers and the things enjoying each other's company they consider newsworthy. on the Centerfield Church lawn. They almost laughed at the The smell of back yard barfact that we publish where beques permeate our senses as the young men and women we lazily idle around town with go on missions and the fact the windows down in our pre-two that it's a big deal when thousand Ford pickup truck. someone celebrates a 50th All winter long as the drudgwedding anniversary. ery of freezing temperatures and From my point of view, short gloomy days gnaw away I'm thrilled to live in a valat my resolve, I dream of these ley where being married days. I wane away the hours of 50 years is something spewinters horribly long nights cravcial. And when our sons ing sunshine. And now that sumand daughters go on a mismer is here, I revel in all that it sion or in the military, it's a brings with it. big deal. Or when our little But, sitting on our back league baseball teams win porch with a cold fresh lime drink a big tournament, we celclutched in my hands, witnessing ebrate with them. I loved yet another perfect sunset, I long when the high school basefor fall and our annual trips into ball team was escorted out the high country. of town by the fire trucks Silently, i wonder what is and the police with sirens wrong with me? While many peoand lights going. I love when ple enjoy winters splendor, I long the high school kids put on a for summer. Then, as quickly as play or a band concert and summer arrives, I crave the brisk so many people come out to mornings of fall. Why I am never support them. And when a loved one from the valley passes away so many come Sponsored by together to show their love and support. I guess I really love living in a place where we laugh together, cry together, celebrate together and where the little things in life are still a big deal. Courtesy Photo Arno and his big cow elk. satisfied may remain a mystery for many seasons to come, but tonight my constantly wandering mind takes me back in time. Back to Arno and RaNee's beloved Monroe Mountain. In my minds eye we are gathered around the kitchen table inside their cabin. Anticipations are high, for with the morrow comes the annual cow elk hunt. Unlike years past when Arno divvies all of the landowner permits up amongst family and friends, this year he has held one permit back for himself, and we as a family are elated with his decision. Silently we slip out the back door, into the darkness that surrounds us. Patiently waiting for our eyes to adjust, we listen to the sounds of the night. Elk are feeding in the meadow adjacent to the cabin and we want to be near them. Finally, reluctantly, we return to our human habitation. Oh don't get me wrong, Arno and RaNee's cabin is wonderful, but on this night I would dearly love to fall asleep under a blanket of stars, listening to the elk sounds and the babbling brook as it makes it way to Box Creek Reservoir. Daylight finds us poised and ready. Where the elk have gone is anyone's guess. We spread out and begin our search. The dew is heavy this morning and the leaves make hardly a sound underfoot. A perfect day to be afield. In the distance a bull elk bugles his ancient melody. We make our way towards one of Arno's favorite hidden meadows, butfirstwe must traverse a dense stand of timber. Amo has gone left and we have gone right. Mid way along our path, the report of a single rifle shot reaches our waiting ears. The origin of which is no. mystery and we alter our course towards the sound. We find Amo poised over a gigantic cow elk, with a smile as big as his Monroe Mountain across his face. I guess it's times like these that make me long for the high country. Memories made with family and friends in pursuit of the majestic wapiti. Bring on the fall with all her splendor. 192 East 1OO North Fayette 528-7999 wwwxhristensenarms.com e-mail: sales@christensenarms.com -NOTICE- Axtell News by AUDREY BOORE A big welcome home to Clifford Sorensdn, who just finished up his second tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Clifford is the son of Sherri Schuman. Caden Hartley played baseball on the 9-10 year old Gunnison All-Star team in the KB Oil AllStar Baseball Classic Championship in Richfield. His team placed 3rd in their age group. Allen Boore played on the 14-15 year old Gunnison All-Star Team in the same tournament and his team won the championship in his age group. The 11-12 year olds also won the championship in their age group. Thursday, June 29, 2006 WEATHER Emily Mecham graduated from Utah State University in Logan on May 6th from the College of Education and Human Services with a Bachelors Degree in Family Finance. Emily is the daughter of Sharon and Quay Mecham and the granddaughter of Bernitta Mecham. Benjamin, Mauresa, Jessica and Gay Bastian earned their black belts recently with the Royal West Martial Arts of Ephraim and Gunnison. Have a safe and happy 4th of July this weekend. Thursday 89/55 Partly Cloudy Friday 88/55 Partly Cloudy Saturday 88/55 Partly Cloudy Senior Lunch Menu Tue July 4 Wed Julv_5 Fri June 30 Swiss Steak HAVE A HAPPY Meatballs Mashed Potatoes 4TH! Mushrooms Gravy Gravy over Rice Pears Spinach Cake Mixed Vegetables Biscuit & Butter Roll & Butter Wed. July 5- Shopping in Richfield. The bus will leave the Center at 1 pm. Call if you need a ride. The Gunnison Valley Gazette will publish on Friday next week instead of Thursday! Sunday 88/56 Isolated Thunderstorms Thur June 29 Chicken Salad Puffs Cheese Slice Garden Salad Fruit Cup Gunnison's Weather brought to you by Plan to Attend the 72nd Annual ,1113,14.15 Gunnison Telephone Co. GUNNISON VALLEY Lane Henderson, Publisher Mark Henline, Editor & Advertising Jodi Henline, Office Manager Call: (435) 528-5178 for subscription, news or advertising. FAX: (435) 528-5179 E-mail gazette@gtelco.net The Gunnison Valley Gazette is published each Thursday by Gunnison Valley Gazette, L.L.C., 194 South Main Suite 101, P.O. Box 143 Gunnison, Utah 84634. Bulk rate postage (permit No. 11) is paid at Gunnison, Utah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gunnison Valley Gazette, P.O. Box 143 Gunnison, Utah 84634 Deadlines: News and advertising, close of business, Friday prior to publication. Subscription prices: One year, $25 in Sanpete County, one year, $30 outside Sanpete County. Single copy price 50 cents. Advertising rales available upon request. All articles and photographs submitted for publication are subject to editing and only will be used if the editor deems them newsworthy. The editor reserves therightto hold submitted news items for space reasons. Copyright Gunnison Valley Gazette, Gunnison, Utah 2005. All rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher or editor. FINANCING for whatever MOVESYOU. If you're financing or refinancing a motorcycle, boat or RV you could save money with competitive loan rates from State Farm Bank1. Call me today for more information. <$&- Parade David Lambartsen State Faim Agent Gunnison, UT 84634 Bus: 435-528-7500 dave.lambertsen.ndkp@statefarm.com Write: P.O. Box 404 Nephi, UT 84648 Call: (435) 632-5608 www.utestampeclerodeo.com LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, STATE FARM IS THERE.' Te-vjmiVfrs'i^hw RSUafti isimi ui^ct 10 Dungs |