Alabama county cuts deal of debt

We spotted an article in the September 30, 2011 issue of “The Week,” a national magazine, which reminds us of Ogden Valley's own Mountain Valley sewer fiasco.

Jefferson County, Ala., has avoided “what could have been the 
biggest municipal bankruptcy filing in American history,” said Mary Williams Walsh in The New York Times.  Officials in the county, which includes Birmingham, have reached a deal to restructure $ 3 billion in debt, which grew out of a sewer system revamp plagued by flawed accounting and corruption. Under the proposal, the county’s Wall Street creditors would forgive about $ 1 billion of the debt, but residents would face higher bills for sewer service.

Does this sound familiar?

Lt. Phil Howell, Weber County Sheriff's Office Ogden Valley Commander loses battle with Cancer

We received a couple of notifications regarding the unfortunate and untimely passing of  Lt. Phil Howell of the Weber County Sheriff's Office and will post them below:

Hello; we were just informed that Lt. Phil Howell, Weber County Sheriff Ogden Valley Commander, has passed away.

We want to recognize his loyalty and service to the Valley, and appreciate all he has done.

He was instrumental and supportive in the organization of Neighborhood Watch groups, community meetings, and patrols. He was always the calm in any situation.

We will miss seeing him around our neighborhoods; and thank the current officers stationed up here for protecting us.

Ruthann Halay

Also, we received this from the www.HuntsvilleTown com email blast: 

It is with a  heavy heart that we pass on the news that Lt. Phillip Howell from The Weber County Sheriff's Office lost his valiant battle with cancer on September 6, 2011. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and co-workers.

About three years ago, Huntsville officials were disappointed to hear that, due to a restructuring within the Sheriff’s office, our Community Resource Officer, Mike Chatelain, would no longer be patrolling in Huntsville.

While we still miss Deputy Chatelain, Phil quickly became a great friend to all he associated with.  Phil was the Upper Valley Precinct commander and spent a great deal of time in Huntsville.  He was a first class individual and a great cop with an old school attitude.  He preferred negotiation, communication and education to citations.

Phil loved his island upbringing and spoke Hawaiian fluently, prefacing every conversation with aloha and humbly offering thanks with mahalo.

Phil left Hawaii for Utah in the early ‘70's to play linebacker for the Weber State College football squad.  After football, he had a distinguished 20+ year career with the Ogden Police department, where one of his biggest personal accomplishments was the large role he had in ‘cleaning up’ 25th street.

Phil took a short break from law enforcement to help with the family business in Hawaii before returning to Utah to attend BYU, where he received his Masters degree.

In the late ‘90's Phil returned to the career he loved when he was hired by the Weber County Sheriff’s office.  Prior to being named Commander of the Upper Valley Precinct, Lt. Howell worked in many areas within the Sheriff’s department: Investigations, accreditation, professional standards, and SWAT negotiations.

Phil will be missed in Huntsville, and we offer our sincerest condolences to his family.

Green Valley Academy Update - Your Help Is Needed

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Boat seized, suspects ID'd in death of U. scientist at Pineview Reservoir

An update to the tragic accident we reported August 23 and August 26.

The boat that was allegedly involved in the accident has been found and seized by authorities, and the three men on board the boat have been identified.

click here to see the Fox 13 video.

Valley Citizens For Responsible Development To Meet This Week

The Valley Citizens for Responsible Development (VCRD) will hold their membership meeting:

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

7:00 PM

Weber County Library, Ogden Valley Branch in Huntsville

Members, prospective members and guests are urged to attend.

"Speak up for what you want, or take what you get!"

Weber deputies seeking several suspects in boat hit-and-run

UPDATE TO OUR AUGUST 23, 2011 POST
From the Standard Examiner

HUNTSVILLE -- Authorities are looking for several suspects who were on a boat that struck and killed a woman in Pineview Reservoir over the weekend.
ABC 4 reports (http://bit.ly/p6ikog ) the Weber County Sheriff's Office believes the boat's driver stopped and talked to the injured woman in the water before fleeing.
Weber County authorities say 49-year-old Esther Fujimoto of Ogden died after she was struck around 8 p.m. Sunday while swimming in the reservoir.
Deputies say a bystander heard her screaming and came to her aid in a row boat. Fujimoto later died of her injuries.
Friends and colleagues say the woman was a University of Utah scientist seeking a cure for cerebral palsy.
Officials are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact authorities.

Weekend Ogden Valley Tragedies Leave Two Dead

Experienced Swimmer and Motocross Rider Both Killed

An experienced swimmer was hit by a boat and killed Sunday evening on Pineview reservoir.  The boat that allegedly hit Ogden resident Esther Fujimoto, 49, left the scene.  The boat is described as  white and blue with three males riding inside.

From Fox 13 news, we share this video,  Woman killed at Pineview Reservoir identified as U of U researcher

And from the Standard Examiner:

  
Boating victim was familiar with waters, says colleague

Weber County Sheriff's Office Lt. Lowther encourages anyone who might have been in the area to contact the sheriff's office. They especially hope to hear from three individuals in a blue and white boat who were sailing in the area, to share any information regarding what they might have seen.

On Thursday, during practice at the Powder Mountain Motocross, 16 year old Dylan Perkins of Surprise, AZ was killed.

Teen rider killed at Powder Mountain motocross practice

 Dylan is the second death in the Powder Mountain Motocross three year history.  In 2009, 16 year old Tanner Krahenbuhl, from Henderson, Nevada, was killed when the motor home he was riding in lost control and rolled over on the Powder Mountain road.

Ogden Valley Arts Heritage Festival This Weekend

Guest post by Narlene Allen Story

It all starts tomorrow

We are getting closer... It all happens starting tomorrow....

Everything is in place for the kick off concert tomorrow night at 7 pm at the Hearthside. Tickets are on sale online at www.ogdenvalleyarts.org or at the door! It's going be an amazing evening.

Then, Saturday.. What a line up we have!
Join us for games, food, vendors, and Music... music... music!

Festival opens at 10 am
Music starts at 11 on two stages: The Hearthside and the Montessori are.

Kids games start at 11am.

Vendors will be there as well as artists!

Bring the kids.. the Eden Fire Engine will be there for the kids to climb on.

We also have Horse drawn buggy rides going on all day!

Oh.. and don't forget LUNCH! The Hearthside is catering lunch from 12 noon to 2 pm and it's all HOMEADE! Lunch tickets at $7.00 for an awesome home cooked meal so bring the kids.. grandma and grandpa and enjoy a weekend with the family!

For a complete schedule of events check us out online at www.ogdenvalleyarts.org


We hope to see you there!

Ogden Valley Forum now listed on Utah Top Blogs web site

We are excited to be included in the new site www.utahtopblogs.com.

The UtahTopBlogs.com is a local blogs aggregator that republishes the titles of new posts from selected local blogs and presents them to visitors in a simple and convenient manner.

The Ogden Valley Forum was chosen among many other local blogs, and you can see our posts along with the posts from many other popular blogs and forums at UtahTopBlogs.com.

Tour of Utah Passing through Ogden Valley Wednesday

Be sure to plan your travel as the Tour of Utah Bicycle Race will be passing through Ogden Valley Wednesday, August 10, 2011.  Riders will depart Ogden at 11 am, traverse North Ogden Pass and descend into the Valley, passing through Liberty, Eden and Huntsville while continuing down Ogden Canyon.  The race is scheduled to end between 3:45 and 4:30 PM.

Ogden Valley Arts (OVA) Heritage Festival August 19-20

•  While staying off the busy Ogden Valley roads tomorrow, be sure to watch the Noon News on KUTV 2.
  Tune in to hear all about the Heritage Festival - happening Aug. 19th & 20th in Old town Eden!
  
  You can read more about it online by clicking here.
  
  Tickets on sale now for the Friday night concert!

North Divide Open Now!

Effective immediately, the North Divide

Road is open. Drive Carefully.

Ogden Valley Forum