Family Sues Syracuse based Island View Residential Treatment Center and Dr. Phil - call facility a "private prison"

Island View Residential Treatment Center was co-founded by Waypoint Academy co-founder

KSL recently reported, "The family of a teenage girl who claims she was berated on television by Dr. Phil and then sent to a residential treatment center in Utah where she was falsely imprisoned, has filed a civil lawsuit."

Read the full story here:

Family sues Dr. Phil, Utah treatment center

In their suit, they now call the facility a "private prison" and claim their daughter was placed there "for the purpose of forcing her to become obedient instead of truant by depriving her of freedom, privacy, education, and subjecting her to involuntary servitude, and unjust unusual punishments."
In one incident, the daughter apparently refused to obey staff members who told her to get off of her bed. When staff members tried to pull her off, her right arm "was badly and perhaps irreparably broken, and its main nerve severely damaged," the lawsuit states.
The family also claims their daughter's constitutional rights were violated and she was falsely imprisoned, as well as conspiracy and fraud.

The facility, Island View Residential Treatment Center (now called Island View School), was co-founded by Waypoint Academy co-founder Jared Balmer.

From the Waypoint Academy website, we read some of Dr. Balmer's credentials:

Jared’s professional career centers on adolescents and their families. He is one of the pioneers of a multi-disciplinary approach in the private sector of the residential treatment arena, integrating education, milieu therapy, recreational therapy, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. While living in the mid-west, he founded two treatment centers that served students with severe conduct and related disorders. Since returning to Utah, Jared co-founded Rivendell Psychiatric Hospital, Island View RTC, The Oakley School, and the Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment. Drawing on his vast experience and passion for working with adolescents, he has joined forces with other seasoned professionals to create WayPoint Academy, a specialized residential treatment facility for males with anxiety and relation problems.

The Man Behind Wolf Mountain Purchase Revealed As Eden Resident Josh Richards

The Standard has been all over the Wolf Mountain story the last two days, following up on Fox 13's breaking story that we posted Thursday evening.

On Saturday, they published this JaNae Francis article:

Investors confirm purchase of Wolf Mountain ski area

From the Saturday article,

Reports had floated about the sale for several days. However, officials from the resort and the Prudential Utah Real Estate office in Eden, where media inquiries were directed, have not been available for comment this week.
Tessa Ann Harbertson has posted on a website run by Skyline Mountain Base, a group of local and European investors, confirmation that the group has purchased the resort.

"As some of you know, I have been extremely busy with a new 'project' for the last six months," she posted. "All of the long hours and hard work has (finally) come to fruition. Skyline Mountain Base investors have purchased Wolf Mountain for development (and all around awesome-ness).
The resort has struggled with financial issues in recent years. In June 2010, officials with the 3,000-acre ski area filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
A statement at that time from the resort read: "Wolf Creek is exploring corporate restructuring and is in advanced discussions with a number of potential purchasers to sell nonstrategic portions of its operations and attract new ownership."   

 That new ownership apparently has become Skyline Mountain Base.

In a follow up article this morning, the principal is revealed as Ogden native and current Eden resident Josh Richards is "the man behind the Wolf Mountain deal."

Ogden native Richards is the man behind Wolf Mountain deal

In this morning's article, Francis writes:

Richards, who said he has been an entrepreneur all his life, starting as a boy who mowed lawns and then as a newspaper carrier for the Standard-Examiner for two years, said he has wanted to purchase Wolf Mountain for a long time.  

And Richards said he tried unsuccessfully to purchase the resort a decade ago.

But he said this time, he was more prepared, not only with more business sense, but with additional investors.
"We have a very good feeling about the mountain," he said.
The article continues with,
Richards is president and CEO of Caelum, which grew out of a multimillion-dollar company with a focus on environmentally friendly housing developments.
His organization also formed a partnership with The Sorep Group, European investors, to finance the ski area purchase.

Together, he said the two groups formed Skyline Mountain Base, the entity that purchased Wolf Mountain.
Richards said his and the investors' goal for Wolf Mountain is for the resort to position 

itself as offering a family friendly product at a fair price.
"We are steering in a very different direction than Powder Mountain and Snowbasin," he said, noting that the other Ogden Valley resorts are more like Audis or BMWs while Wolf Mountain is more along the lines of a Subaru or minivan.
But just because he wants the resort to be more for the everyday folk, doesn't mean he doesn't want it to be nice.
Richards said he plans many improvements, starting with his personal pet peeve, the restrooms. He said among the improvements will be lockers where visitors will be able to store their personal items.

Already since the purchase, Richards and his team have added ski rentals.
"Now we have the nicest rental fleet in the state from Tech Skis," he said. "People have rented our skis and taken them to other areas already."
And he wants to construct many environmentally friendly improvements on the resort's 400 acres of private property.

Richards wants to expand the lodge's offerings to include a year-round restaurant and other services, such as shops catering to local residents.
He believes one of his team members has secured a world-class pastry shop to re-locate there from France.
"We want to improve the experience at the resort," he said.

A search of Utah corporations shows this:
https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/details?entity=8901583-0160#

Entity Number: 8901583-0160
Company Type: LLC - Domestic
Address: 1391 N 5900 E Eden, UT 84310
State of Origin:
Registered Agent: JOSHUA M RICHARDS
Registered Agent Address:
1391 N 5900 E
Eden, UT 84310

In the past year, out of three Ogden Valley resorts have changed ownership and all three seem to have aggressive development plans that will likely change the look and feel of Ogden Valley.

What say ye about the recent events?

BREAKING: Ben Winslow of Fox 13 News confirming that Wolf Mountain has been sold

Wolf Mountain ski resort sold

Posted on: 4:38 pm, January 23, 2014, by Ben Winslow

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The Wolf Creek Resort.

EDEN, Utah — The Wolf Mountain ski resort, once under a cloud of bankruptcy, has been sold to an investment group, FOX 13 News has confirmed.

Skyline Mountain Base, a group of local and European investors, purchased the resort in a deal confirmed Thursday. The purchase amount was not disclosed.

A representative for the resort told FOX 13 News the group had a 10-year plan that included some expansion. In a statement, Skyline Mountain Base said no changes were immediate, except staying open longer (and on Sundays).

“Few changes to the mountain will be noticeable this season; our focus will be creating a plan for a family oriented, world class year around resort. The resort will continue to operate as Wolf Mountain until sometime in the near future,” the group said. “We look forward to the continued support and participation of our local community and guests.”

The resort went into bankruptcy in 2010, and parts of it were put up for auction. The ski resort itself failed to sell at that auction.

Eventually, court filings indicate the resort emerged from bankruptcy. Skyline Mountain Base said it purchased the resort from America First Credit Union.

IMPORTANT MEETING TODAY: Community Asked to Participate in Charrettes Designed to Help Shape Ogden Valley’s Future

The students and professors are coming!  Utah State University Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning have already started work on their creative ideas for the future look and feel of Ogden Valley.  They call it a design charrette.  

Professors and student team leaders for the 15 projects will meet with Ogden Valley residents on Wednesday, January22, 2014 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Weber County, Ogden Valley Branch Library in Huntsville.

Each team is assigned one of the 15 topics listed below.  They need your involvement and ideas.  Please help set the direction for the future of Ogden Valley

1.​What makes Ogden Valley unique and special? How can the valley maintain this unique specialness?

2.​What makes each community unique and special? How can each community maintain its specialness?

3.​Discover potential and future opportunities for the Ogden Valley Region

4.​Future alternatives for Pineview Reservoir and its waterfront

5.​Future alternatives for Huntsville City’s annexation property

6.​Where are future and existing village and neighborhood centers; what should

they be and how should they be developed

7.​Pineview Reservoir - land use, new development, waterfront protection, water

quality protection.

8.​Development and open space preservation - cluster techniques, TDR’s, new

communities, where, how, etc.

9.​Property ownership and property rights - should there be guidelines, committees, controls? How? Examples?

10.​Agriculture - can and should it be a part of the valley? How? What conservation tools should be used?

11.​Wildlife - habitat and conservation - How can conservation work on private lands?

12.​Resorts - what is their contribution, what is their relationship to the valley, and

what relationship should they have?
13.​Moderate Income Housing - where, how, what should it look like? Part of neighborhoods?

14.​Huntsville - what should it be and how should it grow?

15.​Snowbasin’s Pineview’s waterfront property - what should/could it become?

Summit and Harley and Bucks welcome Hip Hop Poet Sekou Andrews Thursday

Summit and Harley and Bucks are teaming up again Thursday night, January 16, 2013 to welcome Hip Hop Poet legend Sekou Andrews.

According to a recent Standard Examiner article, Andrews has performed for President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Maya Angelou, Larry King, Norman Lear, Sean "P-Diddy" Combs, and Coretta Scott King and family.

According to Craig Bonham, Harley & Buck's owner and chef, dinner reservations are required because of the venue's limited space. The buffet serves from 5 to 8 p.m. and adults eat for $15, children for $9. Sekou Andrews is expected to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to make a reservation, call 801-745-2060.

Following an Italian-style buffet at Harley & Buck's, an upscale Eden eatery at 3900 N. Wolf Creek Drive, Andrews will dish up a taste of "Poetic Voice." 

"I'm creating it as I go, out of thin air," Andrews said of his innovative work during a recent phone interview from his home near Los Angeles.

A decade ago, Andrews delivered poems at business conferences to break up the otherwise "cerebral, brain-numbing content." 

"I was asking why art is the break from the content, and not the vehicle to deliver the content," Andrews said. "That was my aha moment."

To read the Standard article in its entirety and view a video clip, click here.

Troubled Youth Steals Van and Escapes From Waypoint Academy

The Ogden Valley News reported in their December 15, 2013 issue, that a youth had been located after fleeing the Waypoint Academy (formerly Green Valley Academy) in Huntsville.  

While the "academy" has only been open some nine months (since spring 2013), this is at least the second such escape that has been reported to the local authorities.  Since discipline is typically handled in house, It is unknown if any other youth have fled the facility.

From the Ogden Valley News,

A report from the Weber County Sheriff's Office states that a deputy recently responded to Waypoint Academy in Huntsville after staff reported that a juvenile had left the facility without permission and took a minivan belonging to the center after finding a spare set of keys to the van.  The juvenile then abandoned the van at about 8400 E. 100 S. because he couldn't figure out how to turn on the headlights.  He then ran north into area fields.

The juvenile was returned to Waypoint Academy after being located by the deputy a short time later hiding in the fields.  The center's operator ended the juvenile's enrollment at the facility and asked that he be taken to Archway Youth Service Center in Ogden so his parents could arrange placement at a new facility or travel plans could be made for his return to New York.  According to the sheriff's report, the juvenile was taken to Archway.

Residents will remember when Academy owners initially were considering a large home near the Trinity Abby in Huntsville as their campus.  Neighbors objected to having troubled teens housed in their backyards. 

Ultimately, Academy owners removed their petition and later purchased property in another residential neighborhood on Highway 39; their current location.

A Weber County planning staffer decided the Academy fit the definition of a "school" and issued approval for the facility, rather than putting the issue on the planning commission's agenda.

Concerns over potential water shortages and other issues surfaced, and the "Protect our water" campaign ensued.

Early on, during meetings held in 2010, Academy owners stated publicly that they would accept low risk "Forest Gump" type kids.  More specifically, kids with Autism, Asperger's syndrome and similar disorders.  However, their new website makes no mention of these disorders and instead touts anxiety.

WayPoint Academy provides specialized treatment for young men between the ages of 13-18 who are afflicted with various types of anxiety.

• Generalized Anxiety 

• Social Phobia

• Panic Attacks

• Agoraphobia

• Specific Phobia

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression is frequently present in individuals with severe anxiety. Thus, the criteria for admission also includes students with symptoms of depressive disorder.

Summit & Powder Mountain: Winter Has Arrived

Powder Mountain has officially opened for the season and the Summit Team sent out this email announcement.  Pay particular attention to the link below for an article in this month's issue of Ski Magazine.

Ski Magazine article

Here is the email:

Hi,

As the snow begins to fall on the mountains here in Eden, Utah, winter is finally upon us, and we couldn't be more excited for what this season will bring.

This winter marks Summit's inaugural year as the proud owners of Powder Mountain, and we are thrilled to announce that as of yesterday, the mountain is officially open for the season!

It's been an extraordinary year. We've made great progress designing our future village, building roads, infrastructure, and a stunning, mountain-top lodge.  We've also closed a county-backed $18 million infrastructure bond which supports the development of Summit's permanent home.

Most recently, we saw SKI Magazine publish an eight-page cover story on the project in its December issue, on stands now. You can read the full article here.  Also, Outside Television shot the winter season of its popular morning show, Outside Today, atop Powder Mountain at the newly constructed Skylodge. You can find a teaser here.

Lastly, all of us here at Summit truly believe that wintertime in Eden is one of the most beautiful places we've ever experienced, and we want to be able to share this spectacular place with you. We would love for you to join us this winter to experience Powder Mountain for yourself.  You can plan your trip, book your lodging, and purchase your ski tickets, cat tours, and ski lessons all directly through www.powdermountain.com, or reach out to one of us on the Summit Team for more information.

We hope to see you on the mountain this winter!

-The Summit Team

Ogden Canyon Construction Update

Construction Activity Update – 11/7/13

The following are planned construction activities. Please note that due to weather conditions, emergency situations, or equipment/supply issues, schedules are subject to change.

• Intermittent flagging operations and/or lane shifts will continue for approximately two weeks for slope stabilization work.  Any flagging operations will occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Travelers are advised to use caution and slow down at the mouth of the canyon where the lanes shift and flaggers and workers will be operating.

·         During early November, the city plans to perform structural upgrades to the pipe support structure at the Gray Cliff bridge.  No water service interruptions or traffic impacts are expected with this work.

More Information

Residents can get more information by calling 801-910-5356 or emailing email@ogdenpipeline.com.  Text “ogdenwater” to 25827 for regular project text updates.

Additionally, area maps and waterline information can be reviewed by clicking here.

 

Valley Sixth Grade Blood Drive TODAY

Ogden canyon update.

The work and closures continue

Construction Activity Update – 10/17/13

The following are planned construction activities. Please note that due to weather conditions, emergency situations, or equipment/supply issues, schedules are subject to change.

·         Alternating one-way traffic will be directed by flaggers on SR-39 between the mouth of the canyon and Gray Cliff through this Friday (Oct. 18) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily for work on the eastbound shoulders. Please be advised that metal plating will be used to cover construction areas during non-construction hours (4 p.m. to 8 a.m.).

·         Intermittent flagging operations are planned at the mouth of the canyon during the first part of next week for landscaping work along the roadway shoulder and removal of temporary construction fencing.  Following this work, flagging operations are expected to be suspended until early November when slope stabilization work will require a few more weeks of intermittent flagging at the canyon mouth. 

·         During early November, the city plans to perform structural upgrades to the pipe support structure at the Gray Cliff bridge.  No water service interruptions or traffic impacts are expected with this work.

More Information

Residents can get more information by calling 801-910-5356 or emailingemail@ogdenpipeline.com.  Text “ogdenwater” to 25827 for regular project text updates.

More Ogden Canyon Cloosures

You have probably already encountered the closures, but here is the latest:

Oct. 2-4:  Alternating one-way traffic will be directed by flaggers at various locations along SR-39 through the canyon for shoulder work (sign and delineator post installation, inlet box maintenance and general clean-up). Restrictions will be effective Wednesday through Friday (Oct. 2-4) from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.  Travel delays are expected to be minimal.

Flagging operations are expected to continue on SR-39 at the mouth of Ogden Canyon through the end of next week to facilitate the replacement of an existing 24-inch culinary waterline.  Alternating one-way traffic is effective on weekdays from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (both lanes open by 5 p.m. on Fridays). 

Schedule and Traffic Impacts

• No full road closures or night or weekend lane restrictions are planned during construction.
• One-way tra­ffic will be directed by flaggers on SR-39 at the mouth of the canyon on weekdays between approximately 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (both lanes open by 5 p.m. on Fridays).

• Due to the safety hazard of potential falling rock, the public is advised to avoid the hotpots and surrounding area on the south side of SR-39 in the construction zone.  The area is closed around the clock for the duration of construction and will be closely monitored by law enforcement.  Trespassers will be cited.  Parking is also prohibited on SR-39 in the work zone.

More Information

Residents can get more information by calling 801-910-5356 or emailing email@ogdenpipeline.com.  Text “ogdenwater” to 25827 for regular project text updates.

Ogden Canyon Waterline Update – August 16, 2013

A day late, but still very pertinent information below:

If you have had the opportunity to drive up Ogden Canyon in the past couple of days, you probably noticed the great job the contractor did in milling and paving the eastbound lane of traffic last weekend.  This weekend, the contractor will do the same thing for the westbound lane.  In order to complete this work, we will need some closures similar to the closure schedule last weekend.  There has been some confusion as to what days and times the canyon will be closed this weekend, so we wanted to take an opportunity to clarify for you.

Tonight, Friday, August 16^th, the canyon will be closed to through traffic between 9pm and 7am while the contractor removes the top two inches of asphalt through a milling process starting at the top of the canyon.  Tomorrow morning, when the canyon opens to the public at 7am, both lanes of traffic will be open.  However, motorists traveling westbound will be subject to a milled surface, which can be difficult for motorcycles and vehicles traveling at high speeds.  Please be careful and respectful of the other motorists while traveling westbound on the milled surface.

On Saturday night, August 17^th, the canyon will again be closed to through traffic between 9pm and 7am while the contractor completes the milling operation for the westbound lane in the bottom half of the canyon.  When the canyon opens again on Sunday morning, both lanes will be open to the public, but the westbound lane will still be milled, so please use caution.

On Sunday night, August 18^th, the canyon will close to the public at 5pm and will not open again until Tuesday morning at 5am.  The contractor will use this time to install two inches of new asphalt over the recently milled surface on the westbound lane.  During this 36-hour closure, emergency vehicles and canyon residents will be allowed to travel in and out of the canyon.

Starting at 5am on Tuesday, August 20^th, both lanes of traffic will be open to the public during the day and night.  Nightly closures will be in effect from 9pm to 4:30am on Wednesday and Thursday nights while the contractor finishes work on the shoulders, ties in accesses to the new roadway, and installs delineator posts in the canyon.

Thank you, as always, for your patience during this project.  Be safe, and have a great weekend.

Best regards,

Jason M. Allen, P.E. Public Involvement
HORROCKS ENGINEERS