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Show C 33 3 IPD5 , Jb. r 5 dhni? caDDs ?!? Mp odd bat EDITORS NOTE: Pleasant View Police Chief Richard G. Diamond is appealing for assistance in solving local police matters because, he says, the police department is short handed and crime is increasing. The following is an open letter from Chief Diamond! I have been asked to discuss with the citizens of our community, by way of this article, a few of the problems and concerns we have as your Police Department and to make an appeal to you for your help in this regard. The city is under some budgetary restraints which have caused us to be shorthanded. According to the 1980 report prepared by the Director of the Northern Utah Criminal Justice Council, there are 137,000 people in Weber County and a total of officers, for an average of 1.53 officers per 1,000 people. We have 4,200 persons in Pleasant View, which means if we were staffed at the county average level, we would need approximately six officers. What we do have is lxk officers. One of the e officers is the youth officer. 209 full-tim- whose salary and other costs are funded almost totally by a federal grant. It is required under the terms of the grant that he work primarily in the juvenile area and work very closely with the schools. We are seeing a drastic increase in reported crime cases so far this year. During the first quarter, the number of criminal cases reported and handled by our Police Department was 123. This compares to 99 for the first a $24 percent inquarter of 1979 crease. Twenty felonies were committed during the first quarter of 1980, compared to five cases during the job-relat- - first quarter of 1979. I have given you the above in- formation in order to demonstrate why I feel the need to appeal to all of our citizens to assist us at least in the following areas. ABUSE AND MISUSE OF THE HILLSIDES SURROUNDING OUR COMMUNITY We continue to see a growing trend of 4 wheel drive vehicles and illegally using the motorcycles hillsides to the north of our community. These vehicles are not only trespassing on private property in most cases but have been engaged in illegal activities involving the spotlighting and shooting of protected wildlife, and the illegal abuse of our watershed. We have both city and state statues covering such activity, and we are mounting a concerted effort to stop the illegal use of these lands. We do not have the vehicular equipment that will allow us to pursue these offenders, but by our officers donating some of their personal equipment and radios, we are by the use of hand-hel- d attempting to apprehend persons engaged in these activities. Its our intent to book into jail persons arrested for these crimes, who are over 18 years of age and to seize any and all equipment illegally used in these activities. Should the court further confiscate this equipment, the offender could not only be facing a fine but the loss of a truck, motorcycle, rifle or other equipment in his possession at the time. We are appealing to those of you in the community who have either been engaged in this activity or who have persons in your home, young or old, or know of persons involved in this area to cease immediately. We know there are those of you who feel that since the community provides recreational opportunities for those involved in sports and horse activities, a place should be provided for those who enjoy the sport of motorcycle riding. While this may be a valid area for discussion with the City Council, as far as the Police Department is concerned, the illegal use of motorcycles must be dealt with according to the law. While on the subject of motorcycle use, now that we are approaching warmer weather, we will again be seeing the use of motorcycles by unlicensed drivers on our city streets and the use of illegally equipped or unregistered motorcycles on our streets by persons of all ages. Again, it is our intent to give this area some stepped-o- n attention. DRUGS ALCOHOL AND SEX We are seeing an alarming increase in the use of drugs and alcohol and in the participation of our youth in sexual activities. Many attempts are come being made by various agencies of our schools and government agencies to educate our youth against abuse in these areas, but again we appeal to all parents to be aware that these activities do exist (yes, right here in River City) and to get involved with the young adults in your home. We as the Police Department would be happy to meet with you if you have any questions in this regard, or if you think that someone in your home might need some help. We are making a considerable number of arrests and referrals in this area, and it is of great concern to us. VANDALISM This area is probably the most maddenng to us as a Police Department. The wanton destruction of personal property for no apparent reason is to us the most selfish and senseless type of act committed against the society. Our appeal is again, that if you witness such an act or know of any facts concerning one, get involved by noting any persons vehicle you might recognize, descriptions, license numbers, etc. and then contact the Police Department as quckly as possible. THEFTS AND BURGLARIES number of those felony increases listed above are in this area. Our fear is that as the economy becomes more depressed and the ability to survive in double digit inflation becomes harder, that we will continue to see increases of crime committed in this area. Your help in watching your neighbors home and other belongings, especially at times when they are not home or are out of town, is a way we can all help each hi nren other reduce crimp We can help ourselves by better protecting our belongings. We live in a peaceful rural community, and its the tendency of a lot of us to leave doors unlocked, windows unsecured, keys left in cars and all sorts of intheft or vitations to a would-b- e burglar to take advantage of us. These are a few of the areas that are of a concern to your Police Department wherein we feel the general community can assist us. We wish to thank the community for the support that we do get, and we are pleased to serve the tax payers and residents of Pleasant View to the best of our ability. A good Pleasant View kicks off cleanup campaign soon By Nancy Lynn Krzton drive to get rid of visual pollution View will get underway 12, announced city April Saturday, councilwoman Helen Packer. A in Pleasant We hope everyone will start putting forth an extra effort then to clean up their homes and yards, she said. A pickup for city-organiz- discarded belongings will take place Saturday, April 26th. Trucks will fan out throughout Pleasant View to cart away unwanted refuse. - Mrs. Packer said all trash should be on the curb by 8 a.m. on that day to ensure that it will be picked up. School Photo Competition held recently at the Weber County Library. Five students from Weber High School won awards for their photograpy at the recently held Ogden Weber District Photography Contest. Trecia Sanders received first place for her entry in the Sports and Action category, while Cameron Shirley placed third. In the Special Effects contest, Darwin Shaw placed second and Brad Peer placed third. Gary Cobb took second place for his photograph in the Portraits category. The students have been trained by Weber High School photography teacher Randy Bates. Late forms cost government money Many census forms sent to Davis and Weber County residents have still not been returned to the census office, and failure to do so will cost the government a lot of money. Thats the word from office operations supervisor Pat ' Rylands at the district census office in Ogden. If the census questionnaire from a person is not received by Monday, April 12, Mrs. Rylands said, he will receive a personal visit from a census enumerator wanting to know why the form has not been returned. The enumerator will return again and again until the questionnaire has been answered. Each visit will cost the government an additional $4, according to Mrs. Rylands. This is one way poeople can control the cost of she noted. government, Anyone who has misplaced his census questionnaire The census can obtain another one by calling bureau will get one out to him immediately. The census count is as old as the United States Constitution, which requires that a census be conducted every ten years so that congressional districts can be adjusted to changes in population. The information is also used to distribute federal and state funds in a number of different programs. It is everyones patriotic duty to send in the Mrs. Rylands said. questionnaire, Every resident of the United States is required by law to fill out a census form. All information on the questionnaire will be kept strictly confidential. 626-252- ( She noted that Ray Auto Parts will buy and pick up any old vehicles people wish to get rid of during the drive to beautify the city. Ugliness corrodes a neighborhood the counand lowers its value, cilwoman said. One unkept yard can lower the value of the entire neighborhood. Mrs. Packer wants to improve the quality of the citys public facilities as well, but said it can only be done with volunteer labor due to a tight city budget. There will have to be volunteer nelp if there are improvements made on the city parks, she said. If you are interested in helping to improve our city by volunteering a few hours of 7 service, please contact me at or beautification committee chairman Carol Hathaway at Saturday, April 19th, Mrs. Packer plans to hold a volunteer cleanup at Shady Lane Park on 600 West. The raking and weeding will begin at 9 a.m. Anyone wishing to donate a few hours of time should come equipped with gloves and a rake. Mrs. Parker said, since equipment will not be available at the park. Some of Mrs. Packers goals for Shady Lane Park are to install horseshoe courts, landscape the new restrooms, add more fences, and build badmitton and volleyball courts. I would like to get evergreens 782-767- 782-383- planted on the east side of the ballfields there, she added. Hillside Nursery has offered to donate evergreen trees to the city, but there must be men or large boys willing to prepare the ground and trees for planting, according to Mrs. Packer. We need some sprinkling systems in the Shady Lane Park picnic area so grass will grow and it wont be so dusty in the summer, she noted. We should landscape our tennis courts below the city offices which are sitting in a pile of weeds and dust, and we need to improve the north end of the Pleasant View Drive park so people can sit on grass instead of dirt when watching ball games. If we could get half of that done this summer, Id be real pleased, Mrs. Packer said. Some people have already begun to beautify city parks in the past few weeks. Members and supporters of the Pleasant View Ridge Riders Junior Posse picked up litter and raked leaves at the possee grounds one Saturday morning. Girls from Girl Scout Troops 458 and 238 picked up litter at the Pleasant View Drive park last week, as did Cub Scout Pack 296. Boy Scouts from Troop 415 rakes weeks and leaves at the park in preparation for Saturdays Easter egg hunt, and even put out the eggs. Mrs. Packer said boy scouts Mike Schrock, Kyle Goldsberry, Kenny Anderson, Daren Layman, David Maughn, Troy Barker, and Leon Barker deserved special praise for their hard work at the park. Cub Scout Pack 415 planted two evergreens at Pleasant View Drive Park Tuesday as a service project. Mrs. Packer said much of the work to be done will require stronger, bigger hands, however, and she is hopeful that Pleasant View citizens will pitch in three or four hours during the spring and summer to improve the parks. County Jr. Posse's get underway By Nancy Lynn Krzton The Annual Kickoff Party of the Weber County Junior Posse took place Saturday at the Golden Spike Coliseum in Ogden, bringing out an estimated 700 participants and spectators. Eleven junior posses entered the event. Posse members put on original skits written by the members themselves. The South Weber Drifters won first place, the Uintah Flaming Us took second, and the Little Mountain Posse of Warren third. Other posses participating in the party were the Pleasant View Ridge Riders, North Ogden Rough Riders, Plain City Rounders, Taylor Jr. Posse, Harrisville Jr. Posse, Ogden Valley Jr. Posse, Hooper and Circle H, and Roy Rhythm Riders. The kickoff party marked the beginning of the junior posse season in Weber County. The group, now in its 26th year, was founded by Chuck and Erma Storey and Earl and Alene Jones to foster good horsemanship and community spirit. It is open to children ages 8 to 16. Members of the present Weber Junior Posse Central Committee which sponsored the Kickoff Party are Erma Storey, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jones, Mr. and Mrs. K.D. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Storey, and Mr. and Mrs. Brent Storey. The next county posse event will be the junior posse queen contest in June. County Vandals hit IV. Ogden mailboxes i ! ! North Ogden has had serious problems recently with mailbox vandalism in the Mountain Road and Fruitland Drive areas, according to Police Chief Earl Carroll. Weve had about 30 in the last month, Mr. Carroll said. Were pretty sure its the same people. The mailboxes have been bashed in by the vandals mainly at night and almost always on weekends. The vandalism is getting bad and people just arent By Nancy Lynn Krzton Plain City boy was killed and another critically injured as a result of a motorcycle accident in Plain City f If people hear a noise, they should look out and try to a get license number and description of the vehicle, the chief said. People have got to be hearing something. He said he has placed extra patrols in the stricken area at night to try to catch the vandals. Plain City youth dies after cycle accident A - reporting it, Mr. Carroll said. The police department is only as good as people make it. Monday night. Rame Maw, 14, the son of Lionel and Dixie Maw of 4275 W. 2528 N., died en route to the hospital. The passenger on the dirt bike Maw was driving, Darin Stagge, 14, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Stagge of 3806 W. 2600 N., was listed in critical condition at McKay-De- e Hospital Wednesday morning. Stagge, who suffered massive head, leg, and Internal injuries, was under treatment in the intensive care unit of the facility. The two boys clipped the rear of a pickup truck driven by Dave Esplin of 2458 N. 575 E. as Esplin was making a right turn to head east on 2800 N. The impact of the collision threw the boys and their bike about 25 feet, police said. The accident occurred about 7:45 p.m. Sheriff George Fisher said the dirt bike was travelling at a high rate of speed with no lights when it crashed into the pickup. They didnt brake at all, Sheriff Fisher said. There were no skid marks. He indicated there was some talk the boys had had trouble with the brakes on the motorcycle earlier that day. Weber County Jail Supervisor Keith Dailey) who lives near by, was on his way home when he discovered the accident. He and neighbor Bill Van Hulten administered resuscitation to the youths to keep them alive until the paramedics arrived. Sheriff Fisher said Wednesday that dirt bikes can only be driven on public roads by a licensed driver 16 years of age or older. I would definitely encourage all parents to keep under age kids off public roads, and to take them to private areas where its safe to teach them to ride, he mouth-to-mout- said. h CUB SCOUT PACK 415 showed up at a recent Pleasant View City Council meeting to volunteer their help in beautifying the city. Tuesday they planted two evergreen trees at the Pleasant View Drive City Park. In the front, left to right, Troy Wolverton, Jon Healy, Blair Himelright. In the back, David Welch, Danny Higbee, Mike Fisher, pack leader Ida Barker. Photo by Nancy Lynn Krzton. |