Tony Dudley was officially sworn in as the new Downey City Council member at
their July meeting. Deputy City Clerk Wendy Anderson conducted the swearing in
ceremony.
Bannock County Police have approached Mayor Ralph Riser to ask if Downey has an
"Open Container Law." Riser was not sure, but reported he will look into one and
proceed from there.
Livestock permits were issued to several local residents, all of whom have had
them previously. One permit was put on hold until the animal owner complies with
a city ordinance forbidding electric fences.
A new business license was approved for Debbie’s Country Crafts, and another
business license was approved for Marsh Valley Equipment Sales and Services.
Riser said the city’s attorney suggested they not give the license because it
was a sign of approval on what is being done. The business is on the corner at
the south entrance to town, and has been an eyesore for several years. Federal
orders have forced the owners to clean up in the past, and a great deal of
cleaning out was done.
However, in past months many new pieces of equipment and various other things
have bee put on the block, and it is once again an eyesore, according to
community residents. Councilman Lonnie Dahlke suggested the approval be given
and try working positively with the owners. The license was approved with the
stipulation that clean-up on the block continue, and that visual improvements
are made.
Mayor Riser reported that a sixty day extension had been granted on the safety
report, and he went through items that needed to be taken care of, and items
that were already completed on each city owned property. They included:
Gem Building Needs two fire extinguishers which have been purchased and
installed.Restrooms need air ventilation. This will be done in the twelfth
month.
Building does not provide for the handicapped. A cost estimate on
project cost will be obtained, and it will be worked into a yearly budget.
Deputy Clerk Wendy Anderson will check on grants available, and the council
will discuss it again.
City Building 1. Senior Center–This area
needs "panic hardware" on the south door. This will also be done in the
twelfth month and the council will discuss it again next month.
The
southwest kitchen exit door and the east door are equipped with a door knob
dead bolt, but need some attention. This will be done by the eighth month.
2. Fire Department–This area will be checked for asbestos, but more
information is needed on how this is done and who to do it. Clarification
will be sought from the safety people.
The safety report recommendations were approved unanimously by the council.
The council will once again allot $100 to support three 4-H Steers. One young
owner has already applied for the support, and the money will be divided three
ways.
John Bowen was given permission to lease the city’s Garrick Well property near
the north entrance to town. He will make improvements to the area. Electrician
David Johnson appeared before the City Council to discuss several areas of
concern in the community. He suggested that the existing pump system for city
water needs updating, and he offered to install an inverter to make the system
more efficient. A building will be needed to house the inverter, and Dan Nisson
of the maintenance crew said they were going to erect a building at the pump
anyway, and the inverter could be included.
Johnson also said the electrical panel at City Park, located near the baseball
diamond, is in need of upgrading and repair. He suggested installing a new
circuit breaker and redoing the panel. The council approved the suggestions and
hired Johnson to do the work he will purchase the materials and panel needed to
update the park system and will install inverters at the pump house.
Councilman Kent Winward reported that the old cement water tank could be a
hazard and suggested it be caved in and filled. The council agreed that it would
be prudent to make the area safer and approved the recommendation unanimously.
Nisson said the wall in the City Shop is falling over, and the foundation needs
work. Council members agreed to have it checked by a contractor and see what
needs to be done to repair it.
Restrooms at City Park are almost completed, Nisson reported. He also said the
Consumer Confidence Report is due, and is a major job. A company has offered to
do the report for $80 per year, and Nisson suggested the council hire them. It
was unanimously approved.
Travel trailers have become a problem in town, as people are living in them in
front of resident’s home. There is an ordinance against this, and those doing it
will be notified. Also a concern is trees that are blocking the view at
intersections. Owners will be notified.
Canal water users are complaining about the lack of water in the town. The city
has several shares of canal water that are rented out to residents, but they are
not getting their shares because the canal is dry. Councilman Kirk Price will
talk to the canal officers about this.
Mayor Riser suggested the city adopt the International Fire Code. State Fire
Marshals will adopt the code this year.
Downey City will once again sponsor the disk jockey who brings music for the
street dance during the South Bannock Fair in August. They approved $200 for the
project.
Marsha Elmore asked to purchase the old whiskey barrel planters that the city
used before the downtown revitalization. Lonny Dahlke motioned to sell them for
$10 each. The motion carried.
We have had a busy and hectic six weeks with a visit from my mother, Dorothy
Garrison of Beloit, Wisconsin. We’ve gone to lunch and dinner with friends and
visited long into the night. Mother left Sunday after my sister, Linda Klebsdel,
also of Beloit, flew out to take her back on a flight from Salt Lake. While
Linda was here we enjoyed a great talking time and got Mother to talk about her
childhood as I took notes. We had some real revelations!
The highlight of Mother’s visit came on July 4. Our daughter, Stephenie Howe,
Las Vegas Nevada, and children Alixandra, 6, and Nicholas, 2, had come a couple
of weeks ago to stay here and have her third child in Pocatello with her
favorite OBGYN. She was due to have the baby on July 17, but was to be started
on July 9 so her husband, Russell Howe, could be at the birth.
However, baby Tyler Russell was in a hurry to get here and while Stephenie was
at a children’s movie with the kids in Pocatello she began to have contractions.
She called her doctor, who said to come to the office at once. After and
examination he sent her straight to the hospital.
After about seven hours of labor, at 12:18 a.m. on July 4, our little Yankee
Doodle Dandy, Tyler, was born and whisked to the NICU for an overnight stay.
Mother and baby are doing great and will stay with us for a couple of weeks.
The exciting things is that Stephenie called Russell in Las Vegas, where he is
employed by Bectel Engineering International as an electrical engineer, and he
left immediately for Pocatello. He arrived a half hour before the birth and was
able to cut the cord on our tenth grandchild.
I was thrilled to be in the delivery room and see the little guy–he weighed just
seven pounds–arrive and Dad cut the cord. Great Grandmother Dorothy was also on
hand and one of the first to touch the new arrival. When she finally got to hold
him after a baby shower, there was a look of joy, wonder, and love on her face
that I’ve never seen in 56 years of having her as a mother.
On July 9, Stephenie was feted with a surprise baby shower that had been long
scheduled by her sister, Keralee Greaves of Pocatello. The group met at
Keralee’s apartment in Chubbuck for Raspberry Hot Fudge Sundaes, then went on to
the hospital to deliver gifts and see the new mom and baby. It was a great event
for me, and Rand missed most of it because he was sick with the flu! He has,
however, made up for it since the baby arrived home after several days
hospitalization for him and mom, and has held him as much as we will let him.
Alix and Nicholas are sporting shirts reading "I’m the Big Sister" and "I’m the
big brother."
Baby Tyler came home in a nightgown I made while expecting our first child 34
years ago. It is white flannel with hand embroidered flowers and ribbons. Our
son Randy wore it home so long ago, then each of the next three wore it home.
Seven of our ten grandchildren have now worn the gown home from the hospital and
had numerous photos taken of them wearing it. When our kids want to announce the
arrival of a new grandchild, the call and say, "Mom, get out the nightgown–we’re
going to need it!" and we know we’re getting a new baby. I’m glad they think
this is special and necessary to make coming home complete.
Neil and Jan Gibbs have enjoyed a great visit with son Kelly of Atlanta,
Georgia, this past week. Kelly is an employee of Delta Airlines where he writes
instruction manuals for them. Jan and Kelly came to visit us, and I’m sorry we
missed them by just minutes.
Downey webmaster Ann Yearsley is working hard to have the website up-to-date
after the July 1 official launch. She got notification that the original server
had gone belly-up as part of the Enron scandal, server master Dee Justesen
immediately contracted another server and began to upload the folks he handles.
Ann got Downey up and running in short time, but it was hectic for a couple of
days. Thanks go to Ann, who donates her time on the Downey site and has done
such a magnificent job.
Jay Burrup, a cousin of ours, works in Salt Lake at the Church History
Department. He showed the website to co-workers who made such comments as "I
can’t believe a tiny town like that would have a website like this!" Truly it is
much nicer than those of some bigger cities, and gives far more information to
the browser!
Jay Burrup, Rand’s cousin, has been visiting with his mother, Helen Burrup, in
Preston. Jay has just returned from a six week stay in England, Belgium, France
and Italy, mostly for the Church History Department. His wife, Dorothy, joined
him in Italy for a missionary reunion.
When they arrived home they met nephew Scott, son of Roger and Sally Burrup, at
the airport, and transferred him to Provo’s BYU for a basketball camp. Jay then
brought Scott to Preston to visit with Helen Burrup, his grandmother. Scott will
go to Pocatello for a few days with maternal grandfather Bryce Roper, then
return for a few more days with Helen in Preston. Scott’s parents, Roger and
Sally Burrup, will be here soon for the Burrup Family Reunion, which will be
held in Woodland Park in Downey. Roger and Jay Burrup are in charge of this
year’s reunion and have been trying to make plans long distance. It has been
quite an experience for both of them!
Downey children are still able to get free lunch at Woodland Park each day at
noon. The program, sponsored by School District #21, provides a free meal to
kids up to the age of 18. The meals feature such foods as chicken nuggets,
burritos, deli sandwiches and hamburgers, a drink and usually some fruit or a
cookie. It has proved to be a great time for those parents bringing kids to get
together and visit while the kids eat and play in the park.
Downey Public Library is still having Story Hour from 2:30 until 3:30 each
Monday afternoon at the library. Kids get a few story books read to them, often
a video of a favorite book, a snack and a craft. This is all free and the
library aides do a great job for kids attending.
Grandma Jo’s Ceramics has a great selection of ceramics for adults and kids.
Located across the street from the Downey Theater on Main Street, Grandma Jo’s
offers classes for all ages. Kids can choose a ceramic to take home to paint, or
come to a class and paint. Adults have the same opportunity.
Downey had a great loss in the past few weeks with the closing of Shadow West, a
great little store which sold a wide variety of merchandise and specialize in
beautiful kid’s clothes under the label "Kids West." The Austin family, owners
of the store, gave it a good try in Downey, but just didn’t have the traffic
necessary to stay open.