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Show Volume XXIV Issue XXI The Ogden Valley news Page 9 December 1, 2017 Housewife Swaps Mop for Job Driving Kids to School in County School officials please with her first performance as bus driver hired her for Note: This article is from “The Many relief driver after she passed chauffeur’s Faces of a Bulldog,” a compilation of license requirements. Sixty Students - When Mrs. Poulsen historical information from Huntsville’s Valley Elementary—primarily from school makes the run, she’s up and gone by yearbooks and scrapbooks kept by the 6:45 a.m., taking her fist load of about school before it closed in 2009. It was 60 students to Weber High School. She written, most likely, between 1965 and returns to the valley in time to gather up 1966. A note at the beginning of the the younger children and deliver them to article states that it may have been first Valley School. She’s back home by 9:15 where she published in the” Standard-Examiner.” remains until about 2 p.m. when she Most housewives are content to wash leaves to return the Weber High School breakfast dishes, make the beds and per- students to their valley homes. Some days, she’s form routine houseout until 6:30 p.m. work after the kids if the schools have and hubby leave the an activity schedhouse each mornuled. ing. Mrs. Poulsen So is Mrs. said the bus run Ormond Poulsen of she or her husband Liberty—unless she makes totals 180 receives a phone miles in a single call summoning her day. to work as a school Mrs. Poulsen bus driver. says the students Mrs. Poulsen don’t treat her any has the distinction different than they of being the only do her husband. woman school bus Most of the time driver in the Weber the children are School District. She’s probably one “All aboard,” calls Mrs. Ormond Poulsen of well-behaved. But if of a very few in the Liblerty as she climbs into the seat of the school a little disturbance state. bus she drives, and prepares for a daily round trip develops, all “I do First to Agree - of 180 miles to deliver Ogden Valley students to is threaten them Mrs. Poulsen is the and from school. Photo taken from the Standard- with a ticket and they straighten up,” first to agree being Examiner 1965-1966. she said. a housewife is her The ticket is a little leverage the bus principal vocation, but circumstances some 18 years ago got her a job as relief drivers have to keep the students in line. “We’re not allowed to put children driver for the school district in Ogden off—except at their own stop or at Valley. One morning 18 years ago just before school—for misbehavior. However, bus time to make the run, Mr. Poulsen became drivers can issue a ticket that requires a visit by the parents to the principal’s ill. Attempts to find someone at the late office to get them back on the bus,” she hour to make the run was the factor that said. Bus drivers are expected to gas up their launched her bus driving career. She made the run without a hitch. own vehicles at the county bus shops on However, at that time, Mr. Poulsen was 12th and Gibson and make routine repairs, driving a small 16-seat bus. Their bus now but mechanics on duty are quick to give seats 60. Mrs. Poulsen a hand when she pulls into By Flora Ogan the shops, she said. In addition to performing all the duties that go with being mother of four children, Mrs. Poulsen finds time to help her husband on their 124-acre farm, serves as president of Liberty Ward YWMIA (LDS young women’s organization) and second vice president of the North Camp of Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Mrs. Pouslen says she’s been lucky during her 18 years on the road. She’s never had an accident, although the bus has stalled with mechanical troubles. Only flat tire she recalls happened at the school yard after she had delivered her charges. Once the bus caught fire, but, level-headed, she took the fire extinguisher, which is standard equipment in the bus and had the fire out before help arrived. Mr. Poulsen’s bus is one of a fleet of 40 operated by the Weber School District’s 35 drivers. Martin Larsen is supervisor of transportation for the district and the first to praise Mrs. Poulsen for her driving ability. FromThe Past . . . Ogden Valley bus drivers 1977-1978 Pictured from left to right are Norman Montgomery, Lou Burley, Konra Allred, Ormond Poulsen, and Daryl Poulsen. Photo courtesy of “The Many Faces of a Bulldog” by Kera Fuller Erickson. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you would be willing to share. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT Friday, December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception at 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Saturday, December 24th Christmas Eve Mass at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sunday, December 25th Christmas Day Mass at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 9:00 a.m. Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Night 6:00 p.m. Fr. David Gaeta 801-399-5627 Before and after any Mass or by appointment. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. 801-612-9299 |