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Show Volume I , Issue XII Page 1 September 1999 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS September 1999 BULK RATE POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 POSTAL PATRON EDEN - LIBERTY- 84310 HUNTSVILLE - 84317 OGDEN CANYON - 84401 HCR 843AO Your Community Newspaper Ballon Fest a Success Inside This Issue: A Tribute to Haynes Fuller Page 3 By Shanna Francis Y2K-How to Prepare For It Page 4 Harvesting the Rewards of Retirement Page 5 Spring Splendor-Bulbs Page 6 Charities Page 7 Great Western Trail Page 8 Photo taken by Paul Judd at this year’s Balloon Fest. Calendar of Events Page 9 Solar Power Page 10 New Children’s Book Store Page 12 Mower Safety Page 12 Bicycle Off-Road Page 13 Announcements Page 14 Student News Page 15 Sports News Page 16 4 - H Club Happenings Page 17 Planning News Page 18 Historical Article Page 19 Ice or Heat? Page 21 Classifieds Page 21 Clogging Classes Page 22 Legal Protection Page 22 Local Student Fills Position on National Geographic Board Page 23 League of Women Voters Page23 Maverik, Don’t Lose That Hometown Feelin’ Soft Landings in Eden By Wendy Hill The 5th Harvest Moon Balloon FestTM landed softly once again in Eden Park on August 27-29, 1999. Eighteen balloons and a frog billowed above Eden to bring to our skies yet another indelible sight. On Friday night fireworks lit up the sky to welcome the pilots and supporters back to the Eden park. Over 100 craft, artist and food vendors brought their goods to share with the spectators. The kids found games and toys to play with. Antique cars stood proudly, showing off their chrome and high gloss finishes. Music wafted throughout the park from morning ‘till night. Five jets for five years brought chills to the spectators and the Valley as they zoomed by at 200 MPH! By evening the aroma of home cooked food filled the air as hundreds lined up for the Eden Park dinners. Just another Saturday in the park? . . . Not! Just another successful and wonderful Balloon Fest. With the exception of bad weather on Saturday night, again, all went well. On Saturday evening a balloon glow was planned, as in past years, but due to unsettled weather, the balloons were unable to inflate. As many noticed, or read about, one ‘lone ranger’ decided to risk the approaching storm, and fly his gentle giant! Having flown in Oklahoma for years in sketchy weather, the pilot felt comfortable with his decision to launch. His flight was actually going very well, as his two passengers can attest to. When he approached the field he wanted to land in, a down draft, or thermal, pushed the balloon down quicker than anticipated. The plan was to clear the upcoming power lines and land in a large open field. As the balloon was approaching the power lines the down draft pushed it into a power pole, knocking out the power to the surrounding lines and much of the Valley. The wind forced the envelope of the balloon to drape over the power lines. The balloon then slid down the lines, passing another power pole. This allowed the envelope to slowly ease down, thus setting the basket, and passengers gently on the ground, upright. The envelope was still draped over the lines as the passengers climbed out of the basket. Once they cleared the area, a gust of wind came up and blew the envelope off the power lines and laid it too on the ground. The passengers were all perfectly calm and were unharmed in any way. The envelope of the balloon sustained minimal damage, which will be able to be repaired. This power line accident had a most fortunate outcome. No doubt it could have been worse. I have seen many that have been. The fact is, power lines do exist almost everywhere a balloon is flown. It is a hazard that pilots must be aware of and prepared for. In the training of a pilot, power line safety classes are mandatory. In many areas, crew training and seminars are offered to teach all involved what to do in the event of an incident involving power lines. A trained and experienced pilot, as in this incident, can make all the difference. Knowing how to react with a warning of only seconds is crucial. A private pilot is required to obtain a minimum of ten hours of instruction with a certified instructor. A commercial pilot requires 35 hours additional training to obtain a commercial rating. In both cases the pilots must go through a ground school accredited by the FAA, and perform a satisfactory check ride with a FAA Examiner. Additional training and certification must be maintained yearly to maintain an active pilot’s license. Classes and seminars are available throughout the USA that welcome crew members and student pilots. Once you have learned to fly and receive a license, you will need a balloon! You can expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 and up for a brand new set up. For a used balloon you could pay as low as $3,000. A truck or trailer to haul your balloon around in is also needed, as is insurance. Insurance for your balloon will run from $700 to $1,500 a year, depending on the balloon and the purpose of its use. You’ll need fuel with each flight, up to 30 gallons of propane at what ever the going rate is. If you have an interest in learning to fly a balloon or would like to purchase a balloon, or for ride information, please call Balloon the Rockies, Mike Bauwens, at 435-649-2517. Remember the “good ol’ days” when you could pull up to the local gas station (How long has there been a gas station?), fill up, send your kid in to the counter with your check, wait for little Johnny to come running back out, start back up the beater ranch truck . . . or SUV, and be on your way down the canyon to that big, hectic, cold, impersonal . . . city. Ahhhh . . . the novelty and convenience of living in a small town where everyone knows their neighbors, waves at their friends in the cars whizzing by going the opposite direction, and stops to chat with uncle Fred and cousin Bob whom they happen to bump into at the market down on the corner (how long has there been a market?). Life just can’t get any better than this. The local Maverik recently changed their check cashing policy. This latest impingement upon that hometown feelin’ may be the reason that the Maverik gas station in Eden has been having so many complaints from fine local folk. Hang around that country store for a few minutes and you can witness for yourself a wide range of reactions to the new policy from customers accustomed to that old personal, non-ID wielding, way of life. There are those who get all excited when they’re hit with the news, losing their temper and making a heck of a scene. Then there are those who show just a few minor signs of irritation. Probably the major reaction is one of confusion and disbelief–what happened? Believe it, be prepared, let it sink in, and get ready to become an ID totin’, card carrying member of the Ogden Valley neighborhood. And don’t even think of sending a pre-written check with your teenager down to the station to fill ‘er up with premium–even if your driver’s license number is written on that check! Yep . . . it’s against that country store’s policy. Where’d that policy come from anyway? Surely not in a Maverik “country store” over a cup of steaming “country store” mud. Uh, uh, no sir, no way. That wouldn’t be the country boy way of doin’ business. That check MAVERIK cont. on Page 8 Hot Air Balloon over the Hearthside. Photo taken by Dave Martin. |