Sunday, February 12, 2012

Polar Bear V. Human

The pictures were taken while people watched

and could do nothing to stop the attack!

Reports from the local newspaper say that

the victim will make a full recovery.

The photos are below.....


May your troubles always be

smaller than your imagination!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

WSU Jared Francom Memorial Event Memos

First Memo:

From: wsu@weber.edu
Date: January 9, 2012 7:02:07 PM MST
To: WSU
Subject: Memorial Service for Jared Francom

WSU Police Department
Michael Davies
mdavies1@weber.edu
Norm Tarbox

Message from Chief Dane Leblanc to All of WSU Campus:

Many members of our campus community have contacted the WSU Police Department expressing concern and support for the Ogden Police Department and Weber-Morgan Strike Force following the tragic events of last Wednesday night, which left five law enforcement officers injured and one killed.
Many of these officers are our friends and colleagues. Thank you for your kind words and condolences.

WSU has offered the use of the Dee Events Center on Jan. 11 to host a viewing and funeral service for Jared Francom, the agent who lost his life in the line of duty.

For those who are interested, public viewings will be held from 5-8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary (845 Washington Blvd., in Ogden) on Jan. 10, and again from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Dee Events Center on Jan. 11. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. at the DEC.

All are welcome to attend.

To better accommodate the expected turnout for the ceremony, we are asking that students and staff who regularly use the Dee Event Center lot please park in the south end of the lot, near the shuttle bus stops on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Parking Services will have sections of the lot cordoned off for law enforcement, media and the public attending the funeral. I ask for your patience and understanding for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you.

Second Memo:

From: "Leanna RIDDLE"
Date: January 10, 2012 8:20:35 AM MST
To: "DIAMOND, Marilyn"
Subject: Police Officer's Funeral/Traffic on Harrison Blvd

Honors Students and Faculty:

Just a word of advice for tomorrow's WSU activities regarding the Ogden Police officer's funeral. The funeral will be at 11:00 at the DEC. The traffic will be heavy around WSU. I saw an electronic sign coming into work today saying that Harrison will be CLOSED from 12:00-3:00 tomorrow for the funeral processional heading north to the Ogden Cemetery. Be prepared for traffic problems tomorrow. Alert your students if you have classes from 10:00-2:00 that there will difficulties getting around WSU tomorrow. I also heard that Harrison will be lined with American flags for the processional.

Monday, January 09, 2012

Ogden City Code Section 2-6-9 (F)

F. Severance Pay:

1. Eligible Employees: Unless otherwise prohibited in this subsection, the chief administrative officer, department directors, deputy and assistant city attorneys unless principally assigned to prosecution activities, and all appointed nonmerit, full time employees in the mayor's office and city council's office ("eligible employees") are entitled to severance pay as provided herein, in the event their employment with the city is involuntarily terminated.

2. Amount: Severance pay shall be in an amount equivalent to one month's pay for each consecutive year of employment with the city, not to exceed six (6) months. The monthly payment amount shall be based on the employee's monthly salary on the date of termination. Payment is to be made in a lump sum within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the termination. This payment will be in addition to any other benefits to be received on termination, as authorized under the pay plan. Notwithstanding the above, the amount of severance pay may exceed the amount authorized herein for the chief administrative officer, the executive director of the city council, or a department director, if authorized under a contract of employment entered into after December 20, 2005, if:

a. Such contract is in writing and on file in the city recorder's office and was entered into prior to the date of appointment; and

b. Such contract was publicly disclosed to the city council as part of the appointment approval process.

3. Prohibition: Severance pay shall not be paid to an otherwise eligible employee who:

a. Has been terminated or requested to resign under bona fide charges of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance in office; or

b. Has been terminated or requested to resign upon being convicted, indicted, charged or is under criminal investigation concerning a public offense involving a felony or offense of moral turpitude; or

c. Voluntarily resigns or terminates employment with the city under circumstances not defined herein as an "involuntary termination"; or

d. Fails to sign a full written release of all claims against the city related to such termination, as approved by the city attorney.

4. Rehiring Restrictions: No employee receiving severance pay may be rehired with the city within one year of the effective date of termination, whether as an employee, contractor, or as a principal of an independent contractor providing employment or other professional services. "Principal" shall include any officer, director, partner or owner holding thirty percent (30%) or more of the entity acting as the independent contractor. This prohibition may be waived if severance pay is repaid upon a rehire within the period of limitation.

5. Definitions: The following terms as used in this section shall have the designated meanings:

INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION: a. Termination of employment contrary to the will or desire of the employee;

b. Resignation of employment by employee upon the request or suggestion of the mayor or other officer or body with termination authority; or

c. Resignation of employment upon a demotion or a reduction in pay not generally applicable to other similar nonmerit employees.

SEVERANCE PAY: A sum of money that an employee is eligible to receive upon involuntary termination of employment, based on the length of employment or, if so provided by contract or other agreement, an unfinished term of employment. It shall not refer to salary or wages applicable during the term of employment, compensation for unused leave authorized under the pay plan, early retirement incentives, back wages, or other damage payments not in the form of severance pay.

6. Employment Agreement With Different Severance Terms: If an employment agreement with different severance terms was entered into prior to December 20, 2005, then the eligible employee will be entitled to the benefit of the more advantageous terms.

7. Restriction Not Intention: It is not the intention of this section to restrict the granting of severance pay to other employees of the city, not defined as an eligible employee herein, as part of a settlement agreement related to either an involuntary termination or a settlement of claims related to employment, but in no event shall severance pay under such agreement exceed the amount that would otherwise be allowed under subsection F2 of this section, if the employee were an eligible employee.

Ogden City Code Section 2-6-9: CLASSIFICATION AND PAY PLANS:

A. General: Classification and pay plans shall be established by ordinance of the city council and are subject to modification at any time at the discretion of the city council.

B. Classification Plan: The classification plan shall provide for the general classification of employees according to similarity of authority, duties and responsibilities. The adopted classification plan shall also provide general rules for the administration of the plan.

C. Pay Plan: The compensation of all officers and employees of the city shall be established by the pay plan as adopted or amended in the annual budget. Salary ranges shall be established by the pay plan for each class of position in the classified and merit services and for nonelected members of the nonmerit service. The mayor may propose changes to the adopted pay plan, which changes may be approved by the city council by ordinance.

D. Pay Standards: The following standards shall apply to full time employees who are members of the classified and merit services:

1. Minimum Rate Of Pay: The minimum rate of pay for a class shall be paid a new employee on the employee's original appointment to a position except when, as determined by the department director and the mayor or the mayor's designee, there has been demonstrated an inability to recruit at the minimum rate of pay or the new employee possesses qualifications warranting employment at a higher rate in the pay range. The mayor, mayor's designee, or a department director may increase an employee's pay rate within range in addition to annual pay increases provided in this section, as necessary to retain an employee that might otherwise leave city employment, provided the employee possesses unique skills, qualifications or abilities that warrant retention and has demonstrated superior work performance.

2. Establishment Of Pay For Performance System:

a. The department of management services, through the division of human resources, shall modify and adopt employee policies and procedures as necessary to implement a performance appraisal system which, to the maximum extent feasible, permits the accurate evaluation of job performance based on fair and nondiscriminatory standards related to each position (which may include certain citywide values).

b. Subject to budgetary restraints, beginning July 1, 2009, and thereafter at the beginning of each fiscal year, annual pay increases shall be based on performance, provided, however, that no employee shall be eligible for an increase whose overall annual evaluation rating under the performance appraisal system does not meet expectations.

c. Subject to budgetary restraints, beginning July 1, 2009, and thereafter at the beginning of each fiscal year, salary ranges in each job classification shall be modified, as necessary, based on benchmarking of other Utah cities, and employees below the minimum in their range shall be advanced to the minimum rate of pay in the modified range. Employees whose rate of pay is above the maximum salary range for their position shall have their rate of pay frozen until such time as the range for that position is increased based on benchmarking. Such employees whose overall annual evaluation rating exceeds expectations as determined by the department director are eligible for an annual bonus based on performance.

E. Biweekly: All salaries, wages and benefits shall be paid biweekly.

F. Severance Pay:

1. Eligible Employees: Unless otherwise prohibited in this subsection, the chief administrative officer, department directors, deputy and assistant city attorneys unless principally assigned to prosecution activities, and all appointed nonmerit, full time employees in the mayor's office and city council's office ("eligible employees") are entitled to severance pay as provided herein, in the event their employment with the city is involuntarily terminated.

2. Amount: Severance pay shall be in an amount equivalent to one month's pay for each consecutive year of employment with the city, not to exceed six (6) months. The monthly payment amount shall be based on the employee's monthly salary on the date of termination. Payment is to be made in a lump sum within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the termination. This payment will be in addition to any other benefits to be received on termination, as authorized under the pay plan. Notwithstanding the above, the amount of severance pay may exceed the amount authorized herein for the chief administrative officer, the executive director of the city council, or a department director, if authorized under a contract of employment entered into after December 20, 2005, if:

a. Such contract is in writing and on file in the city recorder's office and was entered into prior to the date of appointment; and

b. Such contract was publicly disclosed to the city council as part of the appointment approval process.

3. Prohibition: Severance pay shall not be paid to an otherwise eligible employee who:

a. Has been terminated or requested to resign under bona fide charges of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance in office; or

b. Has been terminated or requested to resign upon being convicted, indicted, charged or is under criminal investigation concerning a public offense involving a felony or offense of moral turpitude; or

c. Voluntarily resigns or terminates employment with the city under circumstances not defined herein as an "involuntary termination"; or

d. Fails to sign a full written release of all claims against the city related to such termination, as approved by the city attorney.

4. Rehiring Restrictions: No employee receiving severance pay may be rehired with the city within one year of the effective date of termination, whether as an employee, contractor, or as a principal of an independent contractor providing employment or other professional services. "Principal" shall include any officer, director, partner or owner holding thirty percent (30%) or more of the entity acting as the independent contractor. This prohibition may be waived if severance pay is repaid upon a rehire within the period of limitation.

5. Definitions: The following terms as used in this section shall have the designated meanings:

INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION: a. Termination of employment contrary to the will or desire of the employee;

b. Resignation of employment by employee upon the request or suggestion of the mayor or other officer or body with termination authority; or

c. Resignation of employment upon a demotion or a reduction in pay not generally applicable to other similar nonmerit employees.

SEVERANCE PAY: A sum of money that an employee is eligible to receive upon involuntary termination of employment, based on the length of employment or, if so provided by contract or other agreement, an unfinished term of employment. It shall not refer to salary or wages applicable during the term of employment, compensation for unused leave authorized under the pay plan, early retirement incentives, back wages, or other damage payments not in the form of severance pay.

6. Employment Agreement With Different Severance Terms: If an employment agreement with different severance terms was entered into prior to December 20, 2005, then the eligible employee will be entitled to the benefit of the more advantageous terms.

7. Restriction Not Intention: It is not the intention of this section to restrict the granting of severance pay to other employees of the city, not defined as an eligible employee herein, as part of a settlement agreement related to either an involuntary termination or a settlement of claims related to employment, but in no event shall severance pay under such agreement exceed the amount that would otherwise be allowed under subsection F2 of this section, if the employee were an eligible employee.

G. Total Remuneration: Any salary or salary range established for a position or classification of employment shall represent the total remuneration that may be paid for employment for that position or classification, but shall not be considered as including reimbursement for official travel or other official expenses. No employee shall receive pay from the city in addition to the salary or salary range authorized under the pay plan as approved by the city council for services rendered by him or her, either in the discharge of his or her ordinary duties or of any additional duties that may be assigned or that he or she may undertake or volunteer to perform. This section shall not be interpreted to prevent the payment to or for the benefit of employees of funds for retirement benefits, medical insurance or any other benefit approved by the city council; nor shall this section be interpreted to prohibit annual bonuses based on performance, or a temporary salary increase for an employee serving in an acting position that has a salary range higher than that of the employee's regular position.

(Ord. 2010-18, 6-22-2010, eff. 7-1-2010)

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Quick Disqus Comments Tutorial - How to Post a Comment on WCF's Disqus Comments Threads

1) Click the comments link at the foot of each WCF article, which will bring up this screen:


2) Type your comment into the comment entry box:

3) Click the "Post as" button, which will then bring up this screen:

4) Type in your email address and your chosen user "handle." When you're done with this step, the screen should look something like this:

5) Click the "post comment" button, and your post will appear in your chosen Weber County Forum comments section:

Voila! Easy as Pie, no?

Advanced users should also check this out: Click the link below to learn how you can log in as a registered Disqus User:
This is the best approach, in our view, inasmuch as once you're reserved your own Disqus User Handle, you can post under the same unique ID not only on Weber County Forum, but also on the Hundreds of Thousands of other internet sites which use the Disqus comments system.

That's it, folks!

Happy blogging, everyone.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Twilight Landing At LAX (Cockpit View) [HD]

Twilight Landing at LAX ...Fasten your seat belts folks! But have no fear, it's a smooth landing.

Taped, uploaded to YouTube and sent to us by an Air Canada pilot. Go full screen for full effect!

This is the approach from the north of LAX - if you were coming down from Vancouver or Calgary or the SF Bay Area.

Greatly speeded up but real:


Very cool, no?

High Adventure for Animal Lovers

Be sure to take your pet Raptors for their daily "walk"

(Best viewed in "full screen" mode - click the little "thingy" in the lower right corner of the video player box)


Parahawking over Nepal (via ingeniero3aleman's YouTubeChannel)

Be sure to bring along a few "birdy treats."

Democracy v. Republic Essay

by: William P. Meyers

Republicans and other democracy detractors point to the U.S. Constitution and bits of history, and say, "See, the Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution gave us a Republic. They believed democracies were dangerous and unworkable."

On that, they are partly right, but they fail to mention that democracies and republics overlap. They are not opposites. And they fail to account for the history of American government since 1788, much less the debates that took place in America prior to 1788, when the U.S. Constitution was substituted for the Articles of Confederation.
Democracy means rule of the people.

The two most common forms of democracy are direct democracy and representative democracy. In direct democracy everyone takes part in making a decision, as in a town meeting or a referendum. The specific rules may vary: perhaps everyone must agree, perhaps there must be consensus, perhaps a mere majority is required to make a decision. The other, better known form of democracy is a representative democracy. People elect representative to make decisions or laws. Again, specifics vary greatly.

And, surprise, a representative democracy is a kind of republic. What distinguishes a republic is that it has an elected government. Representative democracies are, therefore, a kind of republic. Self-appointed governments such as monarchies, dictatorships, oligarchies, theocracies and juntas are not republics. However, this still allows for a wide spectrum. The classic is the Roman Republic, in which only a tiny percentage of citizens, members of the nobility, were allowed to vote for the Senators, who made the laws and also acted as Rome's supreme court. Most people would say that Rome was a Republic, but not a democracy, since it was very close to being an oligarchy, rule by the few. Although the Roman Republic was not a dictatorship (until Augustus Caesar grabbed power), it did not allow for rule of the people. In both theory and practice the Soviet Union, that late evil empire, was a republic (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) because the lawmakers were elected, if only by the Communist Party members.

Beginning with the Constitution's adoption, America has been a Republic. But the dominant trend over the last two centuries has been to make it into a democracy as well, a representative democracy, also know as a democratic republic. True, the creation of the Constitution itself was partly a reaction against democracy. In states like Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, the situation was getting way too democratic for the monied aristocracy that had, since the American Revolution, refused to share power with ordinary men.
The causes of the American Revolution were many, but for the monied class there were three principal aims. They sought self-government: that is, they sought to rule the colonies themselves, to further their own interests. They sought to protect the institution of slavery, which had been endangered by Lord Mansfield's ruling against it in the Sommersett case of 1772. And land speculators like George Washington sought to seize more Native American Indian land, which the British had outlawed.

But to win the American Revolution this predatory elite needed help. Their own rhetoric about freedom and equality led to widespread demands for the right to vote: universal suffrage. In other words, the people began demanding democracy. Even the slaves (white and black alike) demanded to be freed and allowed to vote.

After the British were defeated a centralized, national government was seen by George Washington and company not as a method of extending freedom and the right to vote, but as a way of keeping control in the hands of rich. They wrote several anti-democratic provisions into the U.S. Constitution. Slavery was institutionalized. The Senate was not to be elected directly by the people; rather Senators were to be appointed by state legislatures. The President was not to be directly elected by the voters, but elected through an electoral college. The Supreme Court was to be appointed. Only the House of Representatives was elected directly.

More important to our democracy-versus-republic debate, the U.S. Constitution left the question of who could vote in elections to each individual state. In most states only white men who owned a certain amount of property could vote. So, on the whole, the first federal government that met in 1789 was a republic with only a fig-leaf of democratic representation. This is what today's commentators mean when they say America is a republic, not a democracy.

Fortunately (for the democrats), the early federal government was not very powerful. In state after state it became easier for white males to qualify to vote. And slowly, decade after decade, our republic became a democratic republic.

At the national level the major steps toward democracy can be marked by amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights guaranteed limits to the power of the federal government. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. The Fourteenth Amendment effectively extended the vote to all adult male citizens, including ex-slaves, by penalizing states that did not allow for universal male suffrage. The Fifteenth Amendment explicitly gave the right to vote to former slaves. After the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments did not extend suffrage to women, a vigorous campaign for the vote was launched by women, who received the vote through the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.

But the main Amendment that tipped the scales from the national government of the United States being a mere republic to being a true representative democracy was the often-overlooked and often maligned lately, Seventeenth Amendment, which took effect in 1913. Since 1913 the U.S. Senate has been elected directly by the voters, rather than being appointed by the state legislatures. That makes the national government democratic in form, as well as being a republic.

There will always be anti-democratic forces in any society. The most blatantly undemocratic feature of U.S. government in the 20th century was the unconstitutional but systematic disenfranchisement of African-American and other non-white citizens. This came to an end in the 1950's and 1960's with a series of Supreme Court decisions against segregation laws, the passage of Civil Rights Acts, and the passage of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment outlawing poll taxes. We even lowered the voting age to 18 with the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971.

There are no longer any voter-qualification impediments to democracy in the United States. But many have noted that the will of the people has tended not to prevail, and that a majority of people eligible to vote are so discouraged that they do not vote. The main reason for this is the buying and selling of elections and politicians by the wealthier class of citizens and their special interest groups. A year or more before elections take place, the winner is decided by those who vote with dollars. But this is a defect in democracy, not a reason to abandon it. The answer is to cure the defect, not to attempt to destroy our representative democracy.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

U.S Constitution - Article VI

Article. VI.

Clause 1: All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

2011 Contributions and Expenditures

2011 Contribution and Expenditure Reports

Jonny Ballard

Mike Caldwell

Patrick Conlin

Jacob Culliton

Caitlin Gochnour

Jason Goddard

Landon Halverson

Neil Hansen

Richard Hyer

Jennifer J. Neil

Rick Safsten

Brandon Stephenson

J H Thompson

Stephen Thompson

Susan Van Hooser

Steven Van Wagoner

C. Jon White

Amy Wicks

Sunday, September 25, 2011

October 12, 2011 City Council Candidate Forum Announcement

To: City Council Candidates
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 3:29:17 PM
Subject: City Council Candidate Forum

September 22, 2011

Congratulations on your primary election results!

The Ogden City Council would like to invite you to participate in a Council-sponsored candidate forum. The forum will be broadcast on Channel 17 and will provide an excellent opportunity for our citizens to get to know you and your views on pressing issues that are facing our City.

We are in the process of finalizing all of the details of the forum (draft attached) but wanted to connect with you on the proposed date, time and location - Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Please let me know whether or not this date will work for you:
The public will be invited to attend the forum and it would air on Channel 17 a total of 61 times over a 25 day period.

I welcome your feedback regarding the draft forum details and will provide a copy of the final details as soon as they are completed. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Please confirm receipt of this email. Thanks.

Bill Cook
City Council Executive Director
(801) 629-8734

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Heads Up On a Pivotal Upcoming Ogden City Councl 2011 Municipal Election Debate

From: "Bill Cook"
To: richpc@hyerfamily.net, jenneil2@comcast.net, ferncorner@comcast.net, steve1957@midrivers.com, amywicks@yahoo.com
Cc: pam@gardiol.com, "Bart Blair" , "Neil Garner" , "Caitlin Gochnour" , "Doug Stephens" , "Brandon Stephenson" , "Susie VanHooser" , "Amy Wicks" , "Janene Eller-Smith" , "Mavis Hawley" , "Amy Mabey" , "Bridgett Summerill" , "Glenn Symes" , "Watts Baskin, Lisa"
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 3:29:17 PM
Subject: City Council Candidate Forum

September 22, 2011

Congratulations on your primary election results!

The Ogden City Council would like to invite you to participate in a Council-sponsored candidate forum. The forum will be broadcast on Channel 17 and will provide an excellent opportunity for our citizens to get to know you and your views on pressing issues that are facing our City.

We are in the process of finalizing all of the details of the forum (draft attached) but wanted to connect with you on the proposed date, time and location - Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Please let me know whether or not this date will work for you.

The public will be invited to attend the forum and it would air on Channel 17 a total of 61 times over a 25 day period.

I welcome your feedback regarding the draft forum details and will provide a copy of the final details as soon as they are completed. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Please confirm receipt of this email. Thanks.

Bill Cook

City Council Executive Director

(801) 629-8734


---------------------


Mark your calenders, folks!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Blaine Johnson - Ogden City Municipal Election 2007

Council Seat A

Vote for: Blain Johnson.
Some of you who’ve seen Blain’s campaign flyers might feel you’ve seen him somewhere before. Well, Blain is a lawyer and is rumored have a twin brother named Roger who works at the San Diego aquarium. This may account for why he is so sensitive about lawyer jokes. But if you look closely at the smiles, and especially at the eyes, you can see why people think they’ve seen Blain somewhere before. Blain is also a board member of my Ogden Community Foundation, where we make real estate transactions for the city. For instance, my foundation took the AmCan building off the city’s hands, and then sold it to John Peddie for $3 million. Then, Peddie came right back to the city for $1.6 million in tax increment subsidies. Guess who their attorney was? That’s right! It was Blain Johnson! Does this guy know how to cover both ends of a deal or what? Just think, if you elect him to the city council he’ll have that end covered too! Blain and “Roger the shark” definitely have at least one thing in common: When something drifts by them, they both know how to sink in their teeth and tear off a nice chunk for themselves!

(Excerpted from the original 10/4/07 web document.)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

2011 Ogden City Municipal Election Module (Primary)


Days 'til the 11/8/11 Ogden Municipal Election:

2011 Ogden City General Election Candidate Roster

The following candidates have survived the Primary and qualified to move on to the 2011 Ogden City Municipal General Election, for the seats indicated below. Please click the highlighted links for further information about these 2011 Ogden Municipal General Election candidates:

Ogden City Mayor
Mike Caldwell
Brandon Stephenson
Patrick C. Conlin (Write-in)

Council - Municipal Ward 2

Richard Hyer
Jennifer Neil

Council - Municipal Ward 4

Caitlin Gochnour (unopposed)

Council - At Large Seat "C"
Stephen D. Thompson
Amy Wicks
Richard "Dick" Safsten (Write in)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Channel 17 Command Performance "Invitation"

From: UTAH Video-On-Demand [mailto:17@utahvod.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 12:31 PM
To: jonnyjballard@gmail.com; mikecaldwell@hotmail.com; jason@goddardut.com; neilahansen@gmail.com; bstephenson@brandon4ogden.com; johnhthompson@aol.com; susievanhooser@hotmail.com; steve@VoteVanWagoner.com
Cc: 17@ogden.com
Subject: Ogden Channel 17 - Meet the Candidates

Dear Candidate:

Ogden City and Channel 17 have chosen to vary from the live call-in show format this month. The replacement will be a "Meet the Candidates Night" at 6 p.m., Sept. 1. held in the Council Chambers. This format will give Ogden Citizen's an opportunity to get to know their Candidates. This is not a debate. The show’s usual host and former KUTV Anchor and reporter Doug Jardine, will be prepared with generic questions for all candidates. At present we plan on taping the show and replaying it up until the general election as well as making the complete production available on the internet, other than adding titles, an intro and music the program will be shown in its entirety and will be just under 90 min.

We also are planning for two debates following the primary election. These debates are planned for Sept 22 and Oct. 6. The times, locations and moderator for these events currently are pending verification. We hope you will mark these dates on your calendar and plan to attend as these events also will be broadcast on Ogden Channel 17. We will notify you soon after we have pinned down the times and locations for these events.

Thank you,

Bill Francis

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

8/16/11 Facebook Discussion

Am I the only one in Ogden who's estatic about this news?
www.standard.net
LAYTON -- The smoke has cleared and lawmakers are now mulling over the best way to police fireworks in the state of Utah. The 2011 summer season was...
2 hours ago · · ·

  • Aline Julie Dodge likes this.
    • Jennifer J Neil as am I
      2 hours ago ·
    • Jamie Carter I'm stoked
      2 hours ago ·
    • Jennifer J Neil it troubles me what Oda had to say about it, though ...
      2 hours ago ·
    • Courtney White II personally like the new fireworks law. people who put them off late at night are a problem, but we have sound ordnance laws for that. I sat and talked to a fireworks vendor reciently, and he claimed that the new laws were a boom to his business. I'd hate to take that away from these people.
      2 hours ago ·
    • Jennifer J Neil and dog psychiatry is quickly becoming the new booming business in town ... pffft! enough is enough we don't need to listen to battle-sounds 24/7 for over 30 days
      2 hours ago ·
    • Courtney White Pfft! If we made laws to protect skittish dogs from everything that scared it, we'd be in a world of trouble. If anything we should have fireworks laws like Wyoming. Why should the state get between a buyer and a seller?
      about an hour ago ·
    • Jennifer J Neil not just dogs ... small children and vets with PTSD who are crying and hiding now at every thunder-clap and car back-fire ... it's a real issue, and not all fun and games; nor is it to be made light of ...
      about an hour ago ·
    • Rudi Zink Ill tel ya what, Courtney. I have a previously well-adjusted Malamute dog who kept me up all night trembling for one full month; and now she's suddenly scared shitless of any loud noises... like thunder. The full impact of the new law's revision will linger on. Fortunately I'm retired and don't have to show up for work in the morning; but I have massive sympathy for those folks who do have to do have to deal with that little problem of not getting to sleep for a month or more. What's wrong with people, I ask, who like to blow stuff up in the middle of the night? I know you subscribe to libertarian philosophy (as I do). I nevertheless believe that our laws should favor some orderliness in our society, and given my experience with the twits with blow-up devices over most of the month of July, I believe loud fireworks should be banned entirely.
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Courtney White I think people were overly excited this year, because of the novelty of the new law. I doubt well see as much activity next year. I'm sorry about your dog. I have no problem with the police ticketing people who light them off late at night, but I don't like having a prohibition on fireworks. It's just the principle of the matter.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Claudia Baird Maybe those that think fireworks are all fun and games should get out more and tour a hospital burn unit sometime shortly after the 4th of July.....
      about an hour ago · · 2 people
    • Aline Julie Dodge It was almost like being in a war zone around here.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Jennifer J Neil Courtney .. I have friends with PTSD who more than likely needed more medication to calm them, or even extra treatment .. treatment and meds which are difficult to get when needed, thanks to our current economy ... sad state of affairs all around

      You enjoy fireworks, they have them at least 6 times at Lindquist Stadium during baseball season, plus the University, plus the Rodeo, plus the Stadium of Fire, not to mention Cherry Days (4thof July) in North Ogden and other Independence day celebrations around the county ... that should be enough .. I know it is more than enough for me.
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Rudi Zink ‎"It was almost like being in a war zone around here." Excatly right, Julie. Perhaps these teenage level of emotional development morons should join the Marine Corps and volunteer for a tour of Afghanistan, where they can blow up explosive devices to their little hearts' content. Sheesh.
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Jennifer J Neil ‎@Aline -- and if you live in certain parts of Ogden, that would not be much different than any other night of the year, with all the gunfire in certain neighborhoods ... I have friends who live in such neighborhoods for whom gunfire is a nightly occurrence ...
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Rudi Zink Yes, Jennifer. The PTSD problem presents another whole other issue.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Aline Julie Dodge I have lived in Ogden for seven months now. Moved here from Wisconsin. I have heard about the certain areas in Ogden that are not so pleasant. I am fortunate to live in a good area. I enjoy fireworks don't get me wrong. I just enjoy the in moderation and controlled. My neighbor boy and his friend miss shot a firwork which smacked right into the neighbor house acrossed the street. At least they stopped shooting those.
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Jennifer J Neil Rudi Zink - one which many lawmakers seem to put on the back burner all too often ...
      about an hour ago ·
    • Courtney White If you could prove that the fireworks damaged your property, ergo your dog or sanity, then I would agree with you. But if I'm out in the middle of nowhere lighting off fireworks I'm not hurting anyone. Instead of a state ban, let the municipalities regulate it.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Rosemary Hoffman Our neighbors, shooting off firecrackers in the street, managed to send debris clear over our house into the back yard and a weed-choked Hiline Canal behind it. I'm amazed that there weren't more fires than just the one above WSU. Yes, setting them off in the street is illegal, but how do you tell that to a group of 10+ adults and kids gathered together for their event. The police have enough to do without patrolling for fireworks violations.
      about an hour ago · · 2 people
    • Rudi Zink Here's thepractical reality, Mr. White. Local police agencies won't respond unless there's a state-wide ban. I've talked to the OPD about this, and that's just how it is.
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Courtney White So, because the cops won't do their job.. We should make overreaching laws?
      about an hour ago ·
    • Jennifer J Neil um .. Courtney .. we were talking about fireworks going off in towns and neighborhoods at all hours, all month long .. not out in the middle of nowhere .. and if you're taking fireworks out into the unincorporated areas around here, you present a bigger fire hazard than responsible people who light campfires ...

      in case you didn't already know this: OPD is already underpaid, understaffed, and under-facilitated to take care of lower priority "crimes" or infractions ... and to ask them to enforce more ordinances is sort of like pulling teeth out of a newborn ..
      about an hour ago ·
    • Rudi Zink The problem, Mr. White, is that so long as there are no prohibitions under state law, people will continue to believe that blasting off loud black powder devices at all hours is perfectly legal. This creates a situation where local police authorities are unable to enforce the local rules because the violations are so wide-spread as to make local law enforcement (in those local jurisdictions which do have prohibitions) impossible as a practical matter.
      about an hour ago · · 1 person
    • Cindy Simone I live just 2 blocks south of where the fire was behind WS. Was not a pleasant entire month wondering if our homes here were going to be still standing almost every day in July. They were even lighting them in the fields where dry grass was. I think they should ban them entirely except for a controlled display.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Cindy Simone Its not the big booms that bother me...it's the sparks & fires that follow that boom!
      about an hour ago ·
    • Courtney White Then, shouldn't we better fund our police, instead of taking away the liberties of the citizens so the police can get by with less? And If I'm on MY land in an unincorporated area, And I start a fire, I am liable just like I would be in the city. Use existing sound laws, simple as that. If the police are picking what laws to endorse we have a bigger problem then fireworks!
      about an hour ago ·
    • Courtney White ‎*enforce.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Courtney White Enough people get tickets, they will realize the law exists...
      about an hour ago ·
    • Courtney White I grew up in a wooded area myself. We worried about fires as well. We already have laws about where it's legal to light fireworks. The fire in north Ogden was started with a lighter. Should we ban lighters except for a few days a year?
      about an hour ago ·
    • Cindy Simone Maybe they could just have a fireworks patrol. The city could even deputize them. They could go into neighborhoods & legally write tickets when there are problems. I think a few hefty fines & this problem would take care of itself??? Least the regular police could go out & do the calls they normally do without interruption.
      59 minutes ago ·
    • Rudi Zink Then, shouldn't we better fund our police, instead of taking away the liberties of the citizens so the police can get by with less? " Here's my take, Mr, White. The libertarian philosophy presupposes that citizens will behave responsibly. In the real world however, many people don't. When unruly citizens behave in a manner that offends the peace and quiet of people who have to get a decent night's sleep before they go to work, their own personal liberties are thereby invaded. That's why even libertarians, (although not their philosophical cousins the "anarchists") subscribe to the philosophy that laws should be enacted to protect everyone's liberties. So which is it, Mr, White? Are you a libertarian... or an anarchist? Inquiring minds want to know.
      43 minutes ago ·
    • Courtney White Where is there anarchy? I'm just saying that you let the local government regulate it. Because some people abuse alcohol, should we ban it except for special holidays?
      41 minutes ago ·
    • Courtney White I wouldn't be opposed to a sound limit for our fireworks.. Most of the noise of a firework is added for effect.
      38 minutes ago ·
    • Rudi Zink ‎"Maybe they could just have a fireworks patrol." My take, Cindi, is that vigilante actions seldom work out well. Ask any professional cop. The worst situation possible is to have un-trained citizens attempting to play the role of police officers. When that happens, innocent people are inevitably hurt.
      33 minutes ago ·
    • Cindy Simone We have very few professional cops left...most of them have retired. Perhaps they could train the citizens to know who is abusing the fireworks & who isn't? I went out many times & quietly asked people to knock of doing fireworks in the fields by my house & they did leave without argument. I didn't get hurt & either did they. I'm not trained either but I did put a stop to it.
      24 minutes ago ·
    • Rudi Zink LOL, Cindi. You've been bouncing misbehaving miscreants @ the KOKOMO for decades, and have been in the bail bonds business for damn near as long... and you're trying to sell us on the proposition that you're just an average "untrained" citizen?
      16 minutes ago ·
    • Rudi Zink Nighty-nite folks! Thanks to everyone who joined in tonight's discussion!
      9 minutes ago ·

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