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Show The OGDEN December 1, 2003 VALLEY NEWS Your Community Newspaper Second Annual Snowdance Swings PRSRT STD POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO Huntsville Town Elects New Town Councilmen Huntsville Town recently elected two new town Councilmen who will officially begin their terms of service January 1, 2004. As a way of introduction to the community, The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS asked them to share information about themselves and their families. Councilman Jim Truett The Second Annual Snowdance held at the Wolf Creek Resort was a success. Pictured here from left to right are: Paul Judd, Ogden Valley Business Association Chair; Lisa Karam, OVBA Vice-Chair; USA Ski Team Freestyle Aerialists, Christina Craddock and Lacy Schnoor; and Cyd and Joe Heatherly of Eden. See page 13 for article and more photos. Early Snow Benefits State— Area Ski Resorts By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News While heavy and frequent snowstorms this season are keeping northern Utah residents tentatively optimistic about possible drought relief for the state this summer, ski resort owners along the Wasatch Front are already celebrating mounting snow levels after a series of early winter storms pummeled the mountains of northern Utah. Prime skiing conditions in the Rockies is not only an economic boon for area resorts, but for the entire state, which benefits from tourist dollars generated by the “greatest snow on earth,” and Ogden Valley resorts are getting their fair share of the fluffy white gold. stated, “This will be one of the best openers we have ever had, if not the best, in 33 years.” Not to be outdone, Snowbasin’s Thanksgiving day snow level report announced 85 inches of real snow. The holiday had Snowbasin running their gondola (Needles Express); Little Cat, Becker, and Wild Cat Chair lifts; and the Powder Puff Express carpet. Also open for business, the Grizzly Rental and Retail Center, and Earl’s Lodge. Standard all-day ticket prices are $54 for adults, and $34 for children. Discount tickets are also available. For snow conditions, call 801-620-1100. For ticket information, call 801620-1000. Snowbasin is only open for day skiing. Lightening Ridge is available with access via a snow cat or snowmobile. Updated snow conditions for Powder Mountain are available by calling 801-7453771. For additional information, call 801-7453772. Amidst legal battles, scandals, and drought conditions that have financially plagued the smallest of the three area resorts, Nordic Valley also plans to reopen this year. The StandardExaminer recently reported that the resort plans to begin operating sometime around mid December. Current area resort and ski information is also available on the Ogden Valley Business Association (OVBA) web site at ovba.org Valley Youth Perishes in Tragic Accident By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Snow capped mountains in Ogden Valley. Snowbasin—A Sun Valley Resort General Manager Denzel Rowland stated that the resort was able to open a week earlier than last year. This year, by 10:00 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, over 1,100 skiers had purchased ski passes; by noon, numbers were closer to 1,500 skiers. Named for a powder skier’s paradise, Powder Mountain also reported a good Thanksgiving turnout. By early holiday morning, they reported a windfall from heaven of 39 inches of real snow, 5 inches being freshly dropped. Marketing Manager Marc Paulsen Powder Mountain is open for day and night skiing. Day skiing boasts close to 6000 acres served by four lifts, three surface tows, and/or a snow cat or snowmobiles. The lower Sundown lift runs for night skiing. Night skiing is from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $18.00 for adults, $13 for children 12 and under. Children five and under ski free with a parent. Powder Mountain day rates are $41 for adults, $24 for children, and $34 for seniors. Skiing begins at 9:30 a.m. For $7.00 more, access to untracked powder skiing on Twenty year old Alisha Wright of Nordic Valley was killed tragically November 13 when the Toyota 4-runner she was driving careened off Highway 158, about a mile east of the dam keeper’s home. After leaving the highway, the sport utility vehicle rolled down the embankment of Pineview Reservoir, and into the frigid water. Volunteer divers from the Weber County Search and Rescue team found the vehicle, and the body—which remained strapped inside, Friday morning. The vehicle was pulled from the water around 1:30 p.m. Debris along the highway, tire marks leading to the edge of the reservoir, and an oil slick on top of the water led searchers to the scene of the accident. Wet and icy weather conditions may have contributed to the accident, which investigators say probably occurred sometime Thursday afternoon before Wright was scheduled to be at work at 7:00 p.m. for a 12-hour shift at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Employed as a nurse in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Alisha’s parents Kenny and Debbie Wright called authorities when she failed to return home from work the next morning. Unstable weather Thursday afternoon and evening brought heavy rain and sleet to the area, affecting road conditions. I first came to Huntsville as a vacationer in 1986 when my wife and I were drawn to the scenic beauty and peaceful communities of Ogden Valley. After many return trips, I was presented with the opportunity to relocate to Northern Utah, and I thought of nowhere other than Huntsville. Being able to live in the town that had been our vacation paradise for so many years, and to raise our three girls in this exceptional community, was a dream come true. As a district manager for Miller Electric, I have the opportunity to travel through many other states and towns. I have yet to find a community like Huntsville. I am always excited to return home to the friendly atmosphere and small town values of Huntsville. Here, I am able to walk down the streets and greet my neighbors. I wave as friends and acquaintances pass by. Not only do picturesque landscape and natural beauty surround me, but also my children are growing up in a beautiful community with an amazing small town atmosphere and a strong foundation of family values. I feel that Huntsville has provided so much for my family and me through friends and neighbors, beautiful surroundings, and a strong sense of community; and I am committed to giving back to the town that I love. I am truly honored to represent the town that COUNCILMEN cont. on page 7 Pineview Dam Work Update Work by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) at Pineview Dam will continue as long as weather permits, and is scheduled to shut down around Thanksgiving time. However, in the unlikely event that weather allows, work will continue. Under normal winter conditions, the most likely scenario will be to shut down until approximately April of 2004. The work to be finished includes bringing up the fill material to the crest behind the cement wall. Currently that is about three feet from being finished and may, or may not, be completed before winter shutdown. The remaining work consists of building a down stream berm. The berm contains approximately 50,000 yards of material. Construction of the berm and a block wall will take at least two months to complete. The highway must then be returned to its original condition. All of this work will take, approximately, until August or September of 2004 to complete. The August/September completion date is a conservative estimate in case of unforeseen circumstances, but work could, most likely, be completed by early June of 2004. There may be some minor cleanup and punchlist items that will extend the work beyond June. Currently there are no plans for additional dam safety improvement projects for Pineview Dam. For questions or comments, contact Don Merrill, BOR Public Involvement Specialist, at 801-379-1074. Letters to the Editor . Page 2 Announcements . . . . Page 6 Historical Article . . . . Page 9 Calendar of Events . . Page 14 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 15 |