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Show The Ogden Valley News December 1, 2023 Photo by Kathleen Elken Your Community Newspaper USPS MARKETING MAIL POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE WEBER COUNTY November 28, 2023 WEBER COUNTY is proposing to increase its property tax revenue. • WEBER COUNTY tax on a $486,000 residence would increase from $485.42 to $520.61, which is $35.19 per year. • WEBER COUNTY tax on a $486,000 business would increase from $882.52 to $946.57, which is $63.99 per year. • If the proposed budget is approved, WEBER COUNTY would increase its property tax budgeted revenue by 7.25% 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/Time: 11/28/2023 6:00 p.m. Location: Weber Center Commission Chambers 2380 Washington Blvd., Ogden To obtain more information regarding the tax increase, citizens may contact WEBER COUNTY at 801-399-8400. Early morning in the marsh. Photo courtesy of Marcus Julian. UDOT Closes Monte Cristo, Big Mountain Highways for Winter Season The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) advises drivers to plan ahead for the closure of Northern Utah’s two big alpine highways. The Monte Cristo Highway, also known as State Route 39, closed Wednesday, November 22 between milepost 37, just east of Huntsville near Ant Flat Road, and milepost 56 near Woodruff in Rich County. The Big Mountain Highway, or S.R. 65, is now closed between milepost 3, north of the Emigration Canyon turn-off in eastern Salt Lake County, and milepost 13, which is about 2 miles south of the East Canyon State Park in Morgan County. During the closures, motorists who would use the Monte Cristo Highway to pass the Monte Cristo summit should use either U.S. Highway 89 through Logan Canyon, or a combination of Utah S.R. 16, Wyoming S.R. 89, Interstate 80, and Interstate 84 to access communities east and west of the highway. Motorists who normally use the Big Mountain Highway should use I-84 and S.R. 66 from Morgan, or S.R. 65 from I-84 at Henefer to access the East Canyon recreation area. Due to their high elevations, these two routes can be hit with extreme snowfall in a matter of hours. When UDOT closes the two highways, they remain out of service until at least spring. Winter maintenance on the roads is expensive and because of the chances of a swift, incoming heavy snowstorm, motorist safety is a concern during the winter months. The roads typically close from late November through May, but sometimes heavy snow forces closures to last longer. “Adopt A Hydrant” Program Encourages Community Support With winter rapidly approaching and all of us hoping to enjoy some much-needed moisture, the Weber Fire District is launching an initiative that not only warms the hearts of our community but also safeguards our neighborhoods in the unlikely event of a fire. The “Adopt A Hydrant” program invites citizens of all ages to take an active role in ensuring the accessibility of fire hydrants during the winter months. Contrary to a prevailing misunderstanding, fire hydrants do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Weber Fire District. In fact, these crucial assets are neither owned nor maintained by the fire department. Instead, the Weber Fire District is authorized by various water companies to utilize these hydrants exclusively during emergencies. However, it is crucial to emphasize that ensuring the accessibility of these hydrants during the winter is a collective obligation shared by every resident, business owner, and property holder within the reachable distance of the hydrant nearest to them. In the event of a fire, quick access to a hydrant can make a significant difference. This is where the “Adopt A Hydrant” program comes into play. We’re calling on our residents to embrace civic responsibility by selecting a sin- ADOPT A HYDRANT cont. on page 10 Live Entertainment for Ogden’s Christmas Village: Local Musicians & Dancers Featured Christmas Village will illuminate Ogden’s downtown once again this year beginning Saturday, November 25 following the Holiday Electric Light Parade and Christmas Village Gala. The annual parade begins at 5:30 p.m. with the fireworks display at approximately 6:30 p.m. Each year, Ogden City opens applications to the public for performers who wish to share their talents on stage. Ogden City is excited to continue the tradition of Christmas Village live entertainment in the Amphitheater for the 2023 holiday season. This year, holiday entertainment kicks off with Ginger Bess showcasing musical talents with vocals and keys November 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Various other local performers are scheduled through Saturday, December 23. Valley Elementary students will perform December 6 at 8:00 p.m. Derek Williamson, the Ogden Amphitheater Coordinator said, “There are so many exciting entertainers for this year’s Christmas Village stage at the Ogden Amphitheater, from school choirs and small family groups to acoustic sets and 5-piece bands. Your stroll through the village will surely result in you singing along to all the fun holiday songs. Be sure to stop by the amphitheater stage and celebrate the incredible talent we have lined up!” Attendance is free of charge. We look forward to seeing you at Ogden’s Holiday Christmas Village Opening night! For entertainment updates follow: IG –ogdenamphitheater FB –OgdenCityAmphitheater About Ogden Amphitheater - The facility and employees strive to offer each guest a firstclass experience when visiting. Whether you are an event producer, a performing artist, or a guest in the audience we assure you that you will feel at home. With over 90 events each year ranging from major concerts to private weddings, the Amphitheater staff helps make your performance a success. The Arts, Culture, and Events team produces many signature events and welcomes artists to apply through our online artist application. We embrace diverse community programming and encourage everyone to consider utilizing this gem of a venue when planning their next event. A Sewer Without Water? A Long, Obstacle-Filled Path By Shanna Francis As a Valley resident, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re starkly aware of the new sewer line being brutally installed (and pushed down the community’s throat) between Osprey Ranch and Eden’s Wolf Creek Water and Sewer’s treatment plant. Residents at this end of the valley have been plagued with a traffic-congested, road-closing, noise-producing, mud-and-dust-generating, and heavy-equipment-dodging nightmare throughout the entire summer, fall, and now, winter season. What’s actually going on? At a public meeting held by Wolf Creek Water and Sewer Improvement District (WCWS) on November 16, 2023, agenda item number seven indicated that the district would be sending a letter out to business owners located in New Town Eden. The letter will ask business owners about their interest in hooking up to this new sewer system being installed between Osprey Ranch development and WCWS’ treatment facility situated directly below Eden’s Wolf Creek Resort area. The new sewer system currently being installed seems to depend on the collection of wastewater from the New Town Eden area. So, what’s the issue? According to some shareholders of Eden Water Works (EWW), the water supplied to these businesses is owned by EWW, which also gives them ownership of the after-use effluent, or wastewater as well; since “out WATER cont. on page 13 The First Christmas: A Creche Display at Ogden Valley Library The first Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ—was anxiously awaited and prophesied for hundreds of years. Accounts of his birth, mission, and life were recorded in ancient writings by prophets in the Old Testament. Seven hundred years before she was born, Mary was prophesied to be the mother of Christ as foretold by Isaiah. “The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). He also foretold of Jesus as the Messiah: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The prophet Micah lived about the same time as Isaiah. He prophesied of the Lord being born in the village of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Jeremiah identified Jesus as being from the lineage of King David, a rightful heir to the throne: “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 33:15). FIRST CHRISTMAS cont. on page 7 Accident Near Pelican Beach Leaves Two with Minor Injuries On November 20, Weber Fire District, Weber County Sheriff’s Office, and Utah Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle traffic accident involving a rollover. While both patients self-extricated, one received on-site medical evaluation, while the other was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The Weber County Sheriff’s Office reported that the initial crash investigation revealed that the driver of an SUV attempted to pass multiple vehicles in a no-passing zone, resulting in a sideswipe that caused the SUV to roll. Both vehicles appeared totaled. The driver of the SUV was cited for traffic violations. The accident occurred on Highway 166 near 500 N.—just south of Middle inlet near Pelican ACCIDENT cont. on page 8 Photo courtesy of Weber Fire District. |