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Show The OGDEN November 1, 2003 VALLEY NEWS Your Community Newspaper PRSRT STD POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO Wolf Creek Water Company Schedules Water User Meeting -- Answers Questions Regarding Water Rate Increases Q. Culinary water rates were increased a year and a half ago, and now the company is proposing to raise rates again. How can the increase be justified? Sean Meek with his harvest of giant pumpkins. Eight-year-old Produces Giant Pumpkins By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Early this spring, eight-year-old Sean Meek of Huntsville grew two pumpkin plants from seeds out back in the family garden. This fall, the plants produced two giant pumpkins. The largest weighed in at a whopping 125 pounds, the second—90 pounds. Sean stated that it took two people and a wheelbarrow to move each pumpkin from the garden to the front porch where the pumpkins are being used as part of the holiday motif greeting visitors at the front door at the home of Sean’s parents—Carolee and Scott Meek. The family is still debating whether or not to turn the giant squashes into Jack-o-lanterns—a king sized job for sure. A beginner gardener, Sean admitted that his watermelons didn’t do quite as well. Hoping he would share with me his best kept secret for cultivating oversized pumpkins, Sean just shrugged his shoulders, and stated that he didn’t do anything special but check on them almost every day. He said he didn’t even fertilize them! Sean needn’t worry about melons, he definitely has a future in pumpkins! Paula Smith to Retire from Post Office A familiar face will no longer be seen behind the post office counter after 36 years of service with the U.S. Postal Service. Paula Poulson Smith is retiring at the end of October. She has always been counted on to greet customers of Ogden Valley with a smile. four years ago. Eden postmaster Jeannie Marsell states, “I will miss her. She has a great attitude and a willingness to help. I am green with envy, and wish I were retiring with her!” On Friday, October 31, the community is invited to stop by for an open house that will be held in Smith’s honor all day at the Eden Post Office in celebration of her retirement. Cookies and punch will be served. A. There are two ways to respond to this question. First, at the public hearing held on February 28, 2002 we agreed to reduce our proposed rates due to the concerns expressed at that meeting regarding the inequities between users who have secondary water connections and those who don’t. This was in spite of the fact that the Division of Public Utilities recommended approval of the rate increase. Since that time, by installing a new secondary water system, we have made secondary water available to all but a few of our customers. We are now coming back to the table to get the rate increase that we had hoped for last February. In addition, we are proposing conservation rates in order to provide an economic incentive for conserving water. Secondly, it’s a matter of basic economics. The cost of supplying water to our users has been subsidized by Wolf Creek Properties for years. In other words, the cost of supplying water to our users has exceeded the revenues generated from usage. No one can stay in business if they continue to take losses year after year. What most people don’t realize is that the State requires us to have adequate source, storage, and rights for every lot that is recorded within our district. The cost of water rights alone have gone up significantly, not to mention the costs of new water sources and reservoirs. On top of these expenses, we have a part time staff, and all the normal operating costs that any business incurs. It is our hope that our new rates, which include increases in stand-by fees, will get us to a break-even point. Q. What are stand-by rates? A. The company is required by the State to have adequate water sources, storage, and rights for every lot whether it is built on or not. It would be unfair for our customers who have active meters to bear all the expense, so vacant lot owners are charged a stand-by fee. It’s a common practice among water companies in Utah. WOLF CREEK cont. on page 2 Local Doctor Volunteers Time to Save Newborn Infants By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Current statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that every year, approximately one million babies die at birth from respiratory depression or birth asphyxia. Babies that are unable to begin breathing adequately on their own after birth, if not properly assisted, either die or suffer permanent brain and/or organ damage, resulting in lifelong infant disabilities. Ninety-eight percent of these premature deaths occur in developing countries. In response to WHO statistics, volunteers working for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Humanitarian Services Neonatal Resuscitation Program, travel around the world teaching doctors and nurses a systematic medical approach to saving newborn infants. The program was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Ronald Bloom from the University of Utah Hospital co-authored the first textbook written in 1985 that outlines this lifesaving procedure. It was the first time an effort had been made to compile, organize, and distill information based on sound medical studies and research. Dr. Susan Puls of Eden was called by the church in June of 2002 to be a service missionary to help with the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. Dr. Lorimer “Chris” Christensen first led the program for the church beginning in 1995, organizing and traveling with teams to about two countries a year to deliver training manuals and supplies, and to teach the now standardized procedures to local doctors and nurses who, in return, train additional medical professionals throughout their country. Program success spurred church officials LOCAL DOCTOR cont. on page 8 Boy Scout Troop Makes a Difference Paula Smith Having lived in the Valley all of her life, she and her husband Jim call Liberty their home. Together they have raised three children in the local community—Craig, Misty, and Dustin. The first post office of Eden was located in the Eden General Store. After Phylis Fuller retired as postmaster, the post office was moved to the garage of Jack and Melba Miller’s of Eden. Smith began working there in the late 60’s. After about ten years, she transferred to the Huntsville Post Office. She spent over 20 years working in Huntsville before returning to Eden, about Letters to the Editor . Page 2 Announcements . . . . Page 6 Historical Article . . . . Page 9 Calendar of Events . . Page 14 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Boy Scout Troop 745 pictured but not in order are: Troop Leaders Julie Aldrich, Tanya Manning, Ingrid Sanchez, and Lance Quinn. Boy scouts D.J. Sherrer, Cameron Steed, Devin Manning, Allon Echols, Emilie Palmer, Morgan Ward, Christian Daugaard, Ben Palmer, Adam Palmer, Jensen Quinn, Zak Mahas, Nathan Plamer, Andreas Sanchez, Wayne Young, Aurora Quinn, and Riley Manning. The Bears and Webelos II from Boy Scout Troop 745 Bears decided to make a difference this month by helping to make Ogden Valley a little bit cleaner. As a service project, they cleaned litter and debris from the shores of Pineview Reservoir while the water level was low. The scouts disposed of many garbage bags that they filled with litter and debris left behind by those recreating or visiting the area. Though most of the trash consisted of bottles and cans, they also found a few items of interest, such as an eight-track cassette player. The scouts wish to thank David Welsh of IFA who, on behalf of the store, donated gloves for the scouts to use for the service project. |