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Show A-8 The Park Record Ogden man buys back his family home after decades Floors and siding change, but the feelings don’t MITCH SHAW Standard-Examiner OGDEN (AP) – Jon Boothe’s life right now is sort of an answer to the old country music standard, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken?” And the response, in Boothe’s case, is a definitive yes. In November, Boothe bought a home at 3464 Adams Ave. Built in 1907, it was once owned by Boothe’s great grandfather, Peter Tesch. “Long story short, but I was looking for a home and every one I looked at turned into a dead end,” Boothe said. “Something would go wrong and it would fall through. It was weird and it was getting to be a pain. Then one day, I just happened to see this home pop up on the market and thought, ‘Wow, that’s interesting.’” Interesting because Boothe’s family history at the home doesn’t stop with Peter Tesch. Boothe’s grandfather, Christian James John Tesch, later purchased the home and Boothe’s mother, Donna Boothe, grew up there. Boothe himself spent countless hours at the home during his own formative years. “As a little kid, I spent every Christmas here,” he said. “Every Thanksgiving, birthdays. You name it, we did it here as a family.” Boothe’s eight-year-old son Clayton, who now lives at the home, makes it five generations of the family to have lived in the house. “I asked my real estate agent to take me to go look at it,” Boothe said. “As soon as I walked through the front door, I knew that was home. I took my mom and one of her sisters through and it was amazing. The memories all came flooding back for all of us. We were dizzy with excitement.” The family relinquished ownership of the home shortly after Donna’s parents died. Boothe estimates it had been 20 years since he’d even seen the house, let alone stepped inside of it. “It looks a little different — the floors are different, the countertops. And we had wallpaper,” Donna Boothe said. “But there is so much that is still the same. The vents, the molding. And the feeling in here is the same.” Boothe said he feels a presence every time he steps into the home, one of warmth and love. After some two decades, the family again gathered for Christmas at the home in December, calling it the “Miracle on 34th Street.” Boothe is working to restore the home to its old glory and plans to put a new roof on the structure sometime in the spring. “There’s so much family history here,” he said. “Every room tells a story and I want to keep adding chapters to it.” Latter-day Saints saw less growth in Utah last year Culture, migration are major factors, LDS experts say Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY – Membership growth in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has slowed to its lowest level in decades. The church added just 4,900 members in Utah in between October 2018 and September 2019, according to statistics it provided to The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah’s total population grew by 53,000 people over the same period, according to estimates. The church grew by fewer than 10,000 people in a year only one other time since 1989, the first year the newspaper had access to membership data. That was in 2018, when membership rose by just over 9,000 people. By comparison, the faith widely known as the Mormon church added more than 40,000 new members in 2013, which was the high mark of the last decade. In Salt Lake County, the state’s largest, the number of Latter-day Saints fell by 6,710 even as the county’s total population grew by 10,000 people. The largest increase came in Utah County, home to churchowned Brigham Young University, which grew by 8,487 members. Church officials did not provide an explanation for the slowdown and declined the newspaper’s request for an interview. Outside demographers and church observers say the slowdown is likely due to a combination of factors, including a rise in people resigning their church memberships. Many recent resignations were people who were put off by a now-rescinded church policy on homosexual relationships. Other factors include non-Mormons moving into the booming state for jobs and families having fewer children. To a lesser extent, officials said, excommunication and fewer baptisms also could affect the demographics. “I would likely argue that 2019 represents a statistical anomaly in which a variety of factors combined to create a `bad’ year for membership growth,” said Matt Martinich, a Latter-day Saint and independent demographer based in Colorado. Pam Perlich, with the University of Utah’s Gardner Policy Institute, said new residents who are flocking to Salt Lake County tend to be younger and are less likely to be Latter-day Saints. Meanwhile, families, and presumably many Latter-day Saint families, are moving from Salt Lake County to suburban areas, including fast-growing Utah County. “This is the internal migration pattern in Utah,” she said. A 2015 church policy labeled members in same-sex relationships “apostates” and blocked their children from being baptized. That policy has since been rescinded, but it created a significant backlash at the time that has had a lingering impact, said Patrick Mason, head of Mormon studies at Utah State University. LGBT rights issues have contributed to an increase in resignations, he said. Lee still supports Trump after blasting Iran briefing Associated Press SANDY — Just days after Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah criticized a briefing on the killing of an Iranian military leader as “insulting” and “demeaning,” he made it clear he still supports President Donald Trump. “(Trump) has made us look stronger through the restraint of power, not through the excessive abuse of it. And I applaud him for that,” Lee said Saturday in Sandy at the annual convention of the Utah Eagle Forum, a far-right group active in state politics, the Deseret News reported. Lee said he wanted to make it clear that while he called Wednesday’s briefing “proba- bly the worst briefing I’ve seen, at least on a military issue, in the nine years I’ve served in the United States Senate,” that is in no way a signal that his support of the president is wavering. Military leaders and Trump administration officials refused to answer questions from members of Congress about the reasons for the Jan. 2 drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Lee said. Officials also asked that members of Congress not discuss or debate the issue and declined to say what level of military intervention would require the approval of Congress. Lee said he still supports a resolution to curb Trump’s ability to expand the conflict with Iran. On Saturday, Lee issued a joint statement with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, calling on the Senate to vote for the “No War Against Iran Act,” which “utilizes Congress’ power of the purse to block any funds from going to an unauthorized war with Iran.” “If we’re going to engage in further hostile acts against Iran, we need to do so just as the Constitution endorses and as the Constitution ordains,” Lee said to the Eagle Forum attendees, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. “We need to do so only when there is an authorization to use military force or a declaration of war, or where the president is acting to repel or respond to a national or imminent attack on the United States.” Abby Huntsman leaving ‘The View’ to come home Associated Press NEW YORK – Abby Huntsman, a panelist on ABC’s daytime talk show “The View,” said Monday she’s leaving to help run her father’s campaign for governor of Utah and spend more time with her family. Huntsman joined the show in September 2018 and her de- parture will leave Meghan McCain as the show’s only real conservative voice. While “The View” features celebrity guests, it is becoming best known for its fiery political talk and is an important stop for presidential candidates looking to reach an audience dominated by women. Jon Huntsman announced in November that he would be seeking a third term as Utah governor, although he hasn’t done that job for a decade. He’s spent time as U.S. ambassador to Russia in the interim. He asked his daughter to be a senior adviser to the campaign. “I told my dad, if `The View’ taught me anything, it taught me how to fight,” Huntsman said. Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 15-17, 2020 Ridgelines By Tom Kelly Road trip: Ski Sundance the way it was I slid across the vinyl bench into the booth. The morning begged for a hearty breakfast with a big ski day ahead. The stools at the bar were empty. A few locals hung out at a table by the window. Chick’s in Heber is the quintessential road house, a much-welcomed throwback to the past. The crunchy crisp hash browns with puffy scrambled eggs dotted with huge chunks of ham was the ticket, exuding a great depth of taste from an age-old griddle. Six weeks into the season, I was seeking a break from the Park City-Deer Valley routine. Time for a road trip. Chick’s was a perfect stop before a Sundance ski day. What lures you to Sundance Mountain Resort is that mom and pop feel, an area just like the one you grew up skiing decades ago. It’s homespun and low key, with chairlifts on which you can actually establish a relationship on the way up the mountain. But what truly captures your whole being is the majesty. Sliding onto Ray’s Lift at the bottom of the mountain, it feels like any small ski area. But a minute into your ride, Mount Timpanogos begins to stare you down as storm clouds swirl along its tantalizing peaks. It’s what Robert Redford envisioned in bringing the art form of skiing to nature. Sundance may be a small ski area, but the mountain skis big! There are few more pristine settings in Utah. It had its origin in 1944 as Timp Haven, a small hill with a Chevy-powered rope tow. Brothers Paul and Ray Stewart, the namesake for Ray’s Lift, were the early pioneers, advancing from rope tow to poma to chair lift. A quarter century later, Redford, a local cabin owner and little-known actor, bought the land that included Timp Haven. After his 1969 box office hit, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Redford changed the name to Sundance and expanded his love affair with the magical canyon. Cruising up Ray’s Lift I was transfixed by the clouds playing peek-a-boo with the north face of Timp. It was a snowy morning with the sun punctuating the clouds every so often. Eight to 10 inches of fresh snow blanketed the slopes below. The lower mountain looked pretty tame to me, perfect for the groups of beginners with instructors in tow. As I scanned the trail map to plan the day, my eyes were fixed on the upper mountain, anticipating some shin-deep powder hits coming off the ridge. Dropping down the cat track to the new Red’s Lift, the snow looked simply luscious. Named after Redford, Red’s replaced the legendary Arrowhead a few years ago. As we soared over Amy’s Ridge, my mind was racing with the potpourri of options through the chutes and glades - each one with seemingly untouched snow. There are few more pristine settings in Utah.” I made a few laps, swooping some fresh turns down QuickDraw to Bear Claw, then another shot through the old pine growth glades off Junior’s - nearly century-old trees with enough space to really lay down some turns. It was a heavier snow pack that day with my Black Ops carving beneath the surface and roosters of snow shooting up my legs. Glory tracks - and they were all mine! It was a midweek morning at Sundance. Just before noon I grabbed a table at the Bearclaw cabin atop the mountain. It was getting blustery and time for a hot tea. The fire was crackling as a young couple put their feet up on the stone fireplace. Old photographs and posters dotted the wall. Out my window I could see all the way to Utah Lake. It was time to click in again. Ever since I scanned the Sundance trail map the night before, my eyes were drawn to Far East. I slid across the top of Bishop’s Bowl, slicing my way down the razor-sharp ridgeline passing over a few options before dropping down Shauna’s Secret, crossing across Grizzly Bowl to Badlands. As the afternoon wore on, the winds picked up on the ridge. Bearclaw cabin was immersed in a sea of snow. The sun broke through to illuminate the ridgelines emanating down the east flank of Timpanogos. It was hard to stand upright on the summit. I dropped down for one final run down Amy’s Ridge, then a peaceful cruise along Sunshine and back to the bottom to meet friends at the Owl Bar. It was almost sunset - sad to call it a day. On the way home, I stopped for a Lone Pine ale at Heber Valley Brewing to reflect on the day. All of us ski to find that special feeling in the mountains. We live here to savor the mountain life. For a skier, there are few things life more special than being atop a ridgeline with the wind whipping snow in little torrents off the surrounding peaks. You look down to the valley below and know that you’re up here all alone in this special place. And you have the conveyance on your feet to whisk you through the snow to get you home. Parkites, do yourself a favor this season. Put your Ikon and Epic passes in your wallet - you won’t need them here. Bring a fresh mind and a sense of adventure. Be ready to take yourself back in time. And be prepared for some big mountain turns. Wisconsin native Tom Kelly landed in Park City in 1988 (still working on becoming an official local). A recently inducted member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, he is most known for his role as lead spokesperson for Olympic skiing and snowboarding for over 30 years until his retirement in 2018. This will be his 50th season on skis, typically logging 60 days in recent years. Rare salt formations appear along Great Salt Lake shore Crystal terraces only form in the cold, so hurry LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — Rare salt formations have been documented for the first time on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, and they could yield insights about salt structures found on Mars before they disappear for good. They’re showing up now in part because water levels at the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi have been lowered by drought and water diversion, exposing more shoreline. It’s a story that’s playing out throughout the American West as a growing population puts more demand on scarce water resources. Along the high-salinity waters Great Salt Lake, the expanded shoreline means there are more places where water can bubble up to the surface from warm, sulfate-rich springs. When it hits the cold air, a mineral called Glauber’s salt, or mirabilite, separates out. “It has to be exposed to just the right conditions,” said park ranger Allison Thompson, who first saw them in October. The tiny crystals have built up over the last several months, eventually creating flat terraces stacked atop one another like the travertine rimstone and dam terraces at Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs. From far away, the mounds can blend into the snowy landscape along the flat blue of the lake edged by distant mountains. From above, though, the cascading terraces are like an enormous piece of lace laid over the sandy earth. An upclose look reveals long, spirelike crystals clustered jaggedly together like something out of science fiction. There are now four mounds at the Great Salt Lake beach, growing up to 3 feet tall and several yards wide. Mirabilite mounds are seen more often in places such as the Antarctic, bolstered by the constantly cold temperatures. There are also indications of similar structures on Mars, so study of the mounds in Utah could offer clues on how to examine salts found there. Salt deposits on Mars could hold clues about whether groundwater or even life was ever supported on the red planet, said Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars Society, a nonprofit group that runs a station simulating the planet in the Utah desert that isn’t involved with studying the Great Salt Lake mounds. “What would that look like? What would be the right detection instrument or technique?” he said. Mirabilite mounds are especially interesting because they’re created by water bubbling up from underground, so they can provide clues about what’s beneath the surface without expensive drilling, said Richard Socki. He studied mirabilite mounds in the Antarctic when he was a NASA geochemist in the mid-2000s. “The mounds are bringing things up from below, that’s the beauty of those mounds,” he said. But researchers don’t have long to study the Great Salt Lake formations: As winter turns to spring, warming temperatures mean the salt won’t continue to precipitate out of the water and the mounds will disintegrate into a fine dust. “That powder will eventually get blown away or dissolve into the lake,” said Elliot Jagniecki, a geologist with the Utah Geological Survey. Park rangers will be conducting guided tours to the mounds in Utah this weekend. The mounds are expected to be gone by February, and eventually melting snow will send runoff into the lake, raising lake levels and likely swallowing up the sites. That’s part of normal fluctuations with the seasons and drought cycles, but overall the lake isn’t covering as much ground as it once did, said Kevin Perry, professor of University of Utah who has studied stretches of dry lake bed. Much of that is due to water being diverted away from rivers that feed the lake for agriculture and other uses before it reaches the lake, he said. Other water bodies in the West have faced similar pressures, including California’s Owens Lake. It dried up as water was diverted to Los Angeles over the last century, leaving wind-blown dust that polluted the air before a recent anti-dust project brought some water back. While the Great Salt Lake is now recovering from a drought cycle, the long-term trend has been a slow loss of about a 1/2 foot per decade, Perry said. There can be a perception that water flowing to the Great Salt Lake is wasted because it’s too salty to support much life beyond brine shrimp, but Perry said that’s wrong. Brine shrimp are a $1.3 billion industry in Utah, and the wetlands around the lake are a welcome haven for migrating birds. “People have this viewpoint that every drop of water that makes it into the lake is unusable,” he said. “They are missing the point that the lake and its ecosystem has needs, and those needs are not being met.” |