Intellectual Nourishment

The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

Monday, April 6, 2009

A New Board Member Welcomed

By Sara Laub
The GSSD welcomed Dusty Leavitt to the board as he filled the vacancy Todd Taylor left. Leavitt will be the new person to call for problems or information about the water system.
In February Nadine Heaton and Roxanne Aplanap attended the RWAU conference and had received helpful information. Presenters reminded them that “paper stops attack” in reference to make sure that everything the board does is documented. Other items they noted were the government rules are really bi-laws and to use professionals to avoid legal issues, among other items. One of these applied to the park playground equipment assembly discussion, since using a professional would allow the GSSD to avoid legal issues if the playground equipment had problems in the future. Scott Holt said he could get cement donated and there was discussion to perhaps add swings to the equipment as well.
The board decided to meet in Veyo to look at the chlorination tablet system they use to get a better understanding about how it works and to see if it is something they would use for Gunlock’s system. It is appealing since it requires less work.
Aplanap was sent to gather information about printers and spent some time informing everyone of the options available. With some help from Rachel Campbell (she works for an office supply store), they could assess which printer would be the best for the board economically.
Holt also stated, as the meter committee, that a system will have to be put in place to read the meters because of the grants received for the water system.
The board did put into effect voting on items after public comment.

Fire Department at Work

A fire started by the BLM to clear debris got out of hand on Sunday, March 29. Gunlock and Veyo Fire Departments responded and got the fire under control quickly. The fire was less than a quarter of an acre.

Easter Eggs at Random

By Kevin Laub
Once again I have decided to fill some space to enlighten you on all the many random ways I can think of to hide Easter eggs.
1. A birds nest: it is quite an obvious pick but man that bird will be thinking “What a strange looking egg.”
2. Next to the key under the welcome mat. Just hope you don’t expect company.
3. In the tail pipe. You don’t even have to dye that egg because the exhaust will do it for you. Cooking isn’t necessary either.
4. Mail box because it fits.
5. Locate where the dog buries the bone and make space for the eggs too. The dog will get a double treat!
6. Float them down the river and the kids will take hours to find them.
7. Up the rain gutter. You’ll find Easter eggs every time it rains, allowing the holiday to linger longer.
8. Put them in Mason Jars and bury them throughout the garden. Then you can use a metal detector to find them. This can also double for tilling the garden.
9. Because of the recent Scout Campout catapult competition, we can now use the one they built to launch Easter eggs throughout the town. The excitement of the season can take flight.
10. Are you ready? Hide them back in the chicken coop. This will throw everyone off, especially the chickens.

Comfort in History

By Sara Laub
I’ve been reading a lot of history involving politics, previous wars and the diverse perspectives involved. It has seemed to relate to the present since there is sensitivity about the troops in Iraq and how the politicians should manage the “economic crisis”.
Through my reading I have gained knowledge but not necessarily answers. The knowledge has led me to an increased perspective, tolerance, frustration, and also comfort.
So much is out of our hands as citizens and we put our trust in our elected leaders in times of crisis and despair. In history there are accounts of many perspectives and all can be analyzed in a small amount of time by merely reading. As we are living through the current issues at hand it is difficult to know why different choices are made and I have come to respect, that in time, the things that I don’t understand will be available to research in the future. Although this has given me tolerance, I continue in my frustration that I would like to have that information available to me now.
In my research of the previous wars the United States has been involved in, people are always on opposite sides of support, in favor or not in-favor. It has given me comfort to learn from history and it has been difficult to find what specifically gives me the comfort. In learning more about the past, I have gained a sense of wonder at the present and I feel courage and hope that I did not have before. A sense of relief and calm has overtaken and I am secure in my status as an American citizen. The United States of America is truly an amazing place to live and I feel the pride that goes with being a part of a great country, the freedoms we embrace and the life we are allowed to live.

Family Spotlight: Delroy and Afton Anderson

Family Spotlight:
Delroy and Afton Anderson
By Rachel Campbell
The Anderson’s story begins at Brigham Young University where Delroy, a Wyoming native, was playing football on a scholarship. Both were studying to enter the education field. They were married and returned to Wyoming for the summer. When they returned to northern Utah for the next semester, it was decided that Delroy would rather attend the University of Utah, leaving his comfortable football scholarship at BYU for the uncertainty of a walk on scholarship at the U. Fortunately, being a talented athlete, he made the team, secured the scholarship, and the Anderson’s transferred to their rival school.
Afton and Delroy started their professional careers in Gerlach, Nevada; Afton, a teacher of English, Delroy of Math/Science. Along with his teaching duties, Delroy also took on the job of coaching the sports teams. All the sports teams. After Gerlach, was Magna, Utah, then on to Richfield and finally to Spanish Fork where they taught until they retired. Spanish Fork is still one of their favorite places to visit.
Their first encounter with Gunlock was when Delroy had an interview for a coaching job in Mesquite. Afton stayed in the car with their four young children during the several hour interview. “It was so hot, even though it was spring.” Because the freeway had not been constructed through the gorge, they were coming back on Highway 93, when Delroy decided to take the turn at Gunlock to explore.
Soon, the canyon began to get interesting and Afton began to take notice of its beauty. As they drove through town, Afton remembers saying, “Oh, I’d like to live here!”
The Andersons have 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren spanning the country from Alabama to Idaho. While they are proud of their progeny, they are saddened by the distance; they don’t get the pleasure of seeing their family as much as they would like.
So how did the Anderson’s end up in Gunlock? One of their sons, who was a teacher at Enterprise High School at the time, worked with another teacher who had family in Gunlock that was selling their home. On one of their vacations to visit this son, he convinced them to go and see the house his co-worker’s family was selling. As they were finding a wide place in the road to turn around, they happened to pass the home they reside in now. To their delight, there was a small “For Sale” sign outside. They tried to see the house that night, but the owners were not ready for someone to look at it, but they did oblige them in letting them look at the property. With an appointment set for the next day, they headed back to Enterprise. The next day, they came back and were shown the house. Needless to say, they fell in love with the house.
Even though their house was one of the handful that had extensive damage done to it in the flood of 2007, they love their place. In fact, they have nearly finished with all their flood adjustments and repairs. Even with all the water and the fires, the Andersons truly love living in Gunlock.

Gunlock Town Events for April 2009

Apr 2: GSSD Meeting @ Town Hall 7pm. Apr 9: Gunlock Fire Meeting, Fire Station 7pm
Apr 11: Town Easter Egg Hunt
Apr 12: Easter