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Show Page 2 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXX Issue X August 1, 2023 The Ogden Valley News Staff: Shanna Francis Tel: 801-745-2688 Fax: 801-745-2688 Cell: 801-791-4387 E-Mail: slfrancis@digis.net Jeannie Wendell Tel: 801-745-2879 Fax: 801-745-2879 E-Mail: crwendell@digis.net crwendell@msn.com Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists or letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of the owners and staff of The Ogden Valley News. Guidelines for Letters to the Editor Letters should be 300 words or less. Letters must be signed and the address of the writer submitted. The Ogden Valley News reserves the right to edit or decline printing of any submissions. Announcements Sought As a community service, The Ogden Valley News will print local birth, wedding, obituary, anniversary and missionary farewell & homecoming and Eagle Scout announcements free of charge. We invite residents to send their announcements to: The Ogden Valley News PO BOX 522 EDEN UT 84310 If you would like your submitted items returned, please send a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. The Ogden Valley News, while respecting all property received, will take no responsibility for lost or misplaced items. Please remember to keep a copy for yourself. Invitation for Articles The staff of The Ogden Valley News welcomes the submission of articles by our readership. We invite you to submit local historical accounts or biographies, articles pertaining to contemporary issues, and/or other material that may be of interest to our readers. We also invite you to submit to the paper, or notify the staff of local events. Awards that have been earned by the reader, family members, neighbors or friends are also sought. While the staff of The Ogden Valley News invites the submittal of information and articles, we reserve the right to select which material will be considered for publication. All material, to be considered, must be submitted with the full name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the material. The OgdenValley News’liability on account of errors in, or omissions of, advertising shall in no event exceed the amount of charges for the advertising omitted or the space occupied by the error. The Ogden Valley News does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this newspaper. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Ogden Valley News hereby disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The Ogden Valley News is not responsible for any claims or representations made in advertisements in this newspaper. The Ogden Valley News has the sole authority to edit and locate any classified advertisement as deemed appropriate. It also reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Note: The contents of The Ogden Valley News are copyrighted. To protect this publication and its contributors from unlawful copying, written permission is required before any individual or company engages in the reproduction or distribution of its contents, by any means, without first obtaining written permission from the owners of this publication. The deadline for the OVN August 15 issue is August 3. Letters to the Editor Thank You, Ogden Valley Dear Ogden Valley Community, Thank you so much for your tremendous support for the Huntsville Charity Yard Sale this year! We raised nearly $25,000—that’s one heck of a yard sale! As in prior years, a hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to charity, including to the Seager Memorial Clinic (a 501(c)3 nonprofit medical clinic in Ogden), and to local Ogden Valley families who are facing a crisis. We are so grate- Chelsea and Josh Slade ful to the dozens (hundreds?) of people who donated their time to collect, sort, cashier, and clean up; and so grateful for your generous donations of items and money. The charity yard sale has been a community tradition for nearly 25 years now, and we are so grateful for everyone’s support in helping us carry it on! We love you, Ogden Valley! Sincerely, Josh and Chelsea Slade, Huntsville Weber School District Proposed Tax Increase… Really!**#!? I received my 2023 Notice of Property Valuation and Tax Changes on Monday, July 24, informing us of an upcoming meeting on August 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Weber School District office. That is just over one week of notice to protest or give public comment or input. At last year’s tax meeting, the Weber School District requested a 13.71% increase for teachers’ salary and staff increase and for hardening schools. In this year’s tax evaluation notice, they are requesting an additional 13.68% increase! On my property tax bill, it shows that the school district receives almost 60% of the amount billed. This year that will be an additional $234 if this year’s budget is approved. Where is all this money going? Parents are already given school supply lists with the onus on the parents to purchase these supplies. Then there are numerous fees for our teens in junior high and high school! And if the district is so hard up for money, why are they moving to all-day Kindergarten, which will only increase school district costs! At last year’s public meeting, 200 people gave their opinions for over 2 hours and immediately after listening to the comments, Vice President John Richie entertained a motion to approve the tax increase! People became very upset because they said they had the process backwards, commenting, “You’re supposed to listen to what people are saying, deliberate, and then vote not just listen then vote like it’s just a checked box.” The monies from last year’s tax increase were to be used for teacher and staff salary increases to make teacher salaries more competitive to attract great teacher talent along with hardening our schools. Then there also is some $63 million that the district received gratis from the federal government for COVID relief. the school board chose not to answer questions from the audience on the whereabouts of that $63 million, or what it was used for. Janis Christensen was the only “no” vote from the board after listening to and truly representing the people who are financially strapped in today’s inflation-ridden economy. With a very short time to let people know of this upcoming meeting, is it possible that there could be two meetings so that people who are on vacation or those who are unable to make this meeting with such short notice could be able to attend one of them? How about a town hall meeting with our county commissioners to ask some questions? People on fixed incomes will be hurt. People who grew up here will no longer be able to afford to stay and pass their property on to their posterity. I believe questions need to be answered. Jeannie Wendell, Liberty School District Announces Full-day Kindergarten Dear Weber School District Parents and guardians, As you may be aware, in the recent legislative session, the Utah State Legislature passed House Bill 477. This legislation enacted the availability of funding for full-day kindergarten statewide. In effect, it provided funding to local school districts that matched the per pupil allowance in kindergarten with the same allowance given for students in grades first through sixth. Weber School District is excited to be able to implement full-day kindergarten for our students. We look forward to the opportunity to provide an early learning practice that can give children from all backgrounds a strong and equitable start in school. Weber plans to implement full-day kindergarten classes next year in most of our elementary schools. Kindergarten for all students will begin on August 28, 2023. Full day kindergarten will begin at 8:35 and end at 3:15 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Frida; the Wednesday schedule will begin at 8:35 a.m. and end at 1:15 p.m. The schedule for those who selected half day will be 8:35 to 11:35 a.m. daily. Parents of kindergarten students will be asked to schedule a 20-minute KEEP assessment appointment on either August 23, 24, or 25. With regards to the sites where space is not available, the plan will be to implement fullday kindergarten in the 2024-2025 school year. This adjustment will coincide with the building of a new elementary school in West Haven and its associated boundary changes. Sincerely, Weber School District --- NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE WEBER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT --The WEBER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT is proposing to increase its property tax revenue. The WEBER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT tax on a $520,000 residence would increase from $1,127.41 to $1,269.55, which is $142.14 per year. The WEBER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT tax on a $520,000 business would increase from $2,049.84 to $2,308.28, which is $258.44 per year. If the proposed budget is approved, WEBER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT would increase its property tax budgeted revenue by 5.68% above last year’s property tax budgeted revenue excluding eligible new growth. All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the tax increase. Public Hearing Date: August 2, 2023 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Weber School District O昀케ces Board Room, 5320 Adams Avenue Parkway Ogden To obtain more information regarding the tax increase, citizens may contact the WEBER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT office at 801476-7800. Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA) In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Larry Hadley, Director of Facilities and Operations, at 955 West 12th Street, Ogden, Utah (801-476-3903) at least three working days prior to the meeting. Guest Commentary Senate Appropriations Committee Includes $20 Million for Scenic Byways in FY24 Representatives from Scenic America say they are thrilled to share the news that on July 22, 2023, the Senate Appropriations Committee took a significant step towards securing continuing funding for scenic byways by including a $20 million allocation for the National Scenic Byways Program in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. The funding allocation comes as a remarkable boost for scenic byways across the country, which play a crucial role in showcasing the natural beauty and cultural heritage of our nation. This financial support will help enhance the preservation and maintenance of these scenic routes, ensuring that they continue to captivate travelers and offer enriching experiences for years to come. As advocates for scenic byways and their positive impact on local communities, we are thrilled with this development. This investment represents a remarkable opportunity to foster tourism, stimulate local economies, and provide access to some of the most breathtaking landscapes America has to offer. We want to express our gratitude to all those who have been part of this effort and have championed the cause of scenic byways, including the members of the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, as well as the Senate and House Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies. Let’s continue our commitment to the preservation and promotion of these treasured sce- nic routes. Together, we can inspire countless travelers to embark on memorable journeys, immersing themselves in the beauty and history of our diverse landscapes. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. You can learn more by visiting scenic. org. Note: Please note that SR-39 through Ogden Canyon, beginning at the mouth of the canyon, and heading eastward to the west end of Woodruff by way of Pineview Reservoir (via SR-158 and former 166) and over Monte Cristo, is a State designated scenic byway known as the Ogden River Scenic Byway. There are about 21 others throughout the state. Your Gift Grows the Community – CFOV Seeks Your Help The Ogden Valley is Mother Nature’s playground. For those of us fortunate to live, work and play here, the clean air, natural beauty and endless recreational activities offer real quality of life. Layer on top of those gifts the spirit of community cultivated by the people who reside and visit the Valley and you have a truly idyllic place. The Community Foundation of Ogden Valley (CFOV) seeks to further enhance life in the Ogden Valley by raising money and awareness for local nonprofit organizations. By donating to CFOV, you are donating to 15 charities from our community. The foundation supports schools, parks, teams, pathways, arts, Boy Scouts, military families, open space, tennis and skiing, and search and rescue. Community Foundation of Ogden Valley (CFOV) is currently in the middle of their annual Giving Period, and we have been lucky enough to gather with our community and celebrate our amazing valley. In May, we had a wonderful kickoff where all our NPOs gathered and shared their visions and accomplishments. In June, CFOV sponsored the annual Music on the Patio at Wolf Creek Resort and in July, the board celebrated the 4th of July at the Huntsville Parade with a float featuring Lady Liberty and Abraham Lincoln. Your gift makes a huge difference in preserving and improving these wonderful aspects of our community. There are four ways you can donate: 1) You or your business can become a CFOV SPONSOR: Sponsor funds support the operation of CFOV itself—everything from insurance to advertising to printing costs. Sponsor funds in excess of actual operational needs will go to the Matching Funds account and, from there, to the nonpro昀椀t organizations. To learn more about CFOV sponsorship opportunities, visit cfov.net or call Jeannie Wendell at 801-745-2879. 2) Donations to Your Favorite Nonpro昀椀t. You can go online to cfov.net and make a donation to your favorite nonpro昀椀t(s). The nonpro昀椀ts are busy raising funds for their organization’s missions, funds that the Community Foundation will match up to $5,000. CFOV is an option as a nonpro昀椀t you can donate to as well. 3) Become A Match Donor. A Match Donor is a community-spirited person, business, or family that cares about all the various nonpro昀椀t organizations Valley wide. Your gift will be spread among all these good causes. To become a Match Donor, speak with any board member, or call Jeannie Wendell at 801-745-2879 or visit cfov.net. 4) Be a Part of our Opportunity Drawing at the CFOV 2023 Farm Festival at Sunny昀椀eld Farm on Friday, Sept. 8 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets are currently being sold for an opportunity to win amazing prizes. We have a Season Pass to Snowbasin, a pack of 5-day passes to Powder Mountain, a kid’s bicycle, $300 Gift Certi昀椀cates for Club Rec, four rounds of golf at Wolf Creek Resort, gift baskets from Valley favorites like Emie James, Simply Eden, Free Spirit Massage, and Sunny昀椀eld Farm… plus more! To buy a ticket, visit cfov.net. We will be selling the tickets until 6:45 p.m. at the Farm Festival and the drawing will be held at 7:00 p.m. You need not be present to win. Tickets are $20 for one or $50 for three. For more information about the Community Foundation of Ogden Valley or how to donate, contact Beth Mannino at 773-425-6306 or Michelle Ley at 801-430-8199. |