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Show August 1, 2004 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS - Your Community Newspaper™ a . — a>: p ——— » = PRSRT STD POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT ~- - =_4 . = — ome — = ee , oe — . oo% . 5. ~~ = - § & —_ nae | POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-843 10 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843A0 > ; ee ” Us. « os * . i ! ' rh Ss} Questar Extension Area Customers to Receive Billing Credit By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Nightfall from the top of Powder Mountain. RAMP Initiative to Be Compiled by Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Organizers spent the early part of the summer collecting enough signatures to put a RAMP proposal on the November ballot in Weber County. If the ballot initiative passes, it will provide funding for recreation, arts, museums, and parks in the county. The proposed ballot language asks voters: Should the Weber County Commission impose a local sales tax of 1/1oth of 1% (one cent on a $10 sale) for the purpose of funding facilities and programs to improve recreation, arts, museums and parks throughout Weber County and in the cities within Weber County? The tax will be imposed for a period of eight (8) years. RAMP was initiated to provide funding for needed fitness facilities, cultural opportunities, and for preserving the county’s historical heritage and open spaces. Organizers claim that the small increase in sales tax “will reap enormous economic benefits, revitalize communities, and increase the safety and quality of life for Weber County residents of all ages.” It is estimated that the new tax would generate 3 million dollars annually to support RAMP programs in the county. Salt Lake, Summit, and Cache Counties already have a similar sales tax in place, and Davis County will have a similar proposition on their ballot. Placed On Ballot in November Funds raised from a RAMP sales tax would fund new and existing facilities and programs such as recreational sports fields; walking, biking, equestrian, and cross-country trails; neighborhood parks and pathways; swimming pools and aquatic centers; community recreation centers; multi-cultural and arts festivals; dance, theater, and music activities and performances; arts in the schools; literary outreach programs; and tennis, basketball, skateboarding, climbing, and skating facilities. Collected funds would be distributed to qualified non-profit organizations, and city and county entities through a formal proposal process. For more information, call 801-6229689, or email <info@ramp-weber.com> In a statewide proposed ballot initiative sponsored by the group Utahns for Clean Water, Clean Air, and Quality Growth, sponsors gathered and turned into the state 133,000 signatures to place a clean water, clean air, and quality growth initiative on the ballot. On July 6, the Lt. Governor’s office held that there were insufficient signatures from two senate districts in the state, a ruling that would prohibit the initiative from being placed on the ballot. After the state office’s determination, organizers carefully scrutinized the collected signatures again, finding that there were still several hundred signatures collected above the amount required by law from every senate district. Organizers are now asking for a decision from the State Supreme Court, hoping that the Lt. Governor’s findings will be overruled. A decision from the Supreme Court is expected before July 30 of this year. For more information, visit <www.UtahLands2004.org> or call 801-5317304. At a glance, Questar Gas customers in Ogden Valley may have noticed that the bill they received in July had a new look to it. If they looked a little closer, they also noticed that their Extension Area Charge had a new look to it—it went up markedly! In a phone interview, Questar Director for Regulatory Affairs Barrie McKay explained that the company recently incorporated a new computer billing program to replace the program that had been in use since the late 1960’s. The company began operation of the new program for the July billing cycle. A programming error prorated the extension charge according to the number of days in the billing cycle instead of maintaining the flat monthly fee of $27.50. Unlike the Extension Area Charge, the Basic Service Fee, which also appears on customers’ Questar bill, has correctly changed from a flat monthly rate of $5.00 to a prorated fee, though the total yearly fee should still average out to be approximately $60 a year for residential customers. McKay stated, “The Extension Area overcharge will be credited back to our customers, and the accounting for the credit will appear on next month’s bill. The computer glitch also affected additional customers throughout the state who are part of similar finance programs. We apologize for the e Tror. 9 Huntsville Postal Worker Named Postmaster of the Year Members of the Utah Chapter, National Association of Postmasters, met in Torrey, Utah June 8 — 11 for the 2004 State Convention. During the convention, members received training and instruction regarding current postal issues, and also enjoyed a course in communication skills from Diversity Specialist, Panla Heimuli. One of the highlights of each yearly convention is the evening banquet where the name of the Postmaster of the Year for the state of Utah is announced. Criteria for the award include service to the chapter, service to other postmasters, and contribution to community, and exemplary leadership. The 2004 Postmaster of the Year is Ogden native Darlene Raty Filban, postmaster in Huntsville, Utah. Darlene is the daughter of the late Theodore Raty, who was a letter carrier for many years from the Ogden Post Office. Darlene began her government career with the IRS, and joined the U.S. Postal Service in 1976, working in Brigham City as a clerk/carrier, where she both carried mail and worked as a distribution and window clerk. In 1983, she transferred to the Ogden Post Office as a clerk, and in 1987 was proPOSTMASTER cont. on page 3 Work Progresses on the Divide Missing Woman in Liberty Found Safe By Shanna Francis Ogden =eeiies A Silver | State Helicopter out of Ogden lifts off from Liberty Park to begin an aerial grid search for a missing Colorado woman. Valley News A Colorado woman staying with relatives in Liberty was reported missing Wednesday, July 21. Fifty year old Judy Diaz was staying with family while in the state to attend funeral services for her mother. Detectives from the Weber County Sheriff’s Department stated that relatives claimed the woman left for a walk Tuesday evening around 10:30 p.m. with her | year old white Siberian husky. When Diaz and her dog had not returned by 7:30 the next morning, the family called the Sheriff’s department. A helicopter was called in for an aerial search along with a ground team of search and rescue volunteers. At 11:43 a.m., several minutes after the helicopter took to the air to begin a grid search and volunteers began to arrive and organize at Liberty Park, the search was called off at news the woman had been located in Layton. Still distraught from the loss of her mother, the woman reported that she had spent the night walking, arriving at the home of relatives in Layton by late morning. 5 Construction projects on the North Ogden Divide continue with major work directed towards replacement of the Chicken Creek culvert near the foot of the mountain in Liberty. Contractors hope to have the road reopened by the end of September. Letters to the Editor. Page 2 Calendar of Events.. Page 14 Announcements.... Page 6 Classifieds ......... Page 15 Historical Article.... Page 9 |
