A safer walking path to Birch Creek elementary

Smithfield City plans to build a safer walking path to Birch Creek elementary school. Currently the only routes to the new school are the heavily driven 100 North. It’s a state road and is starved for sidewalks. Or the long, narrow Saddleback Road. Parents, school administrators, and city officials have all expressed concern over how children can safely walk to school. Now a deal between the city and Fred Fishburn paves the way for a sidewalk on 200 North from 400 West to the Park Place subdivision.

Utah Humanities Council to honor William Thornley

The Utah Humanities Council’s Human Ties Awards recognize exemplary public humanities programs. In 2010, just three projects have been selected for this honor from the hundreds of activities that have taken place in the past year. This year, William Thornley spearheaded a project to share some of Smithfield’s heritage through dozens of oral histories, and will be receiving the Human Ties Award.

Healthy fun at Sky View’s sprint triathlon

Image: Principal David Swensen — Principal Swensen gears up to participate in the triathlon as an individual.

Friday’s break in the rain was just enough for 11 individuals and 7 teams to participate in a great triathlon at Sky View High School. It was the first of what Principal Swenson hopes will be an annual event called the Sky View Sprint Triathlon. Initiated/sposored by the Sky View PTSA, it was great fun for all the participants and supporters as they manuevered through the swimming pool, the bike course which included Smithfield Canyon, and the running course which had a killer hill right at the start. [ UPDATED: Added four images. ]

Agenda: Kid’s Korner property, police station remodel

The Smithfield City Council meets Wednesday evening. On the agenda for consideration: selling a portion of Kid’s Korner park to the Hancocks, selling property at 200 North and 400 West to Fred Fishburn, awarding bid to remodel police station to Raymond Construction, introducing agreement with Hyde Park for fire protection services. The council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at 69 North Main.

Organic news

As the parent of a Sky View High student and athlete, and as a resident of Smithfield, I love the local focus and the community feel of the Smithfield Sun. The photos and stories, as well the clean design and format, have earned the Sun a bookmark on my browser. Reading the Smithfield Sun feels like the journalistic equivalent of buying locally grown, organic produce. Thank you.

Teachers voice opposition to a salary freeze

Image: Linda Bettinger — Greenville elementary teacher of the year.

Teachers want the school district to keep “steps and lane” salary increases. This is the message five teachers gave the school board Thursday evening. Ilene Davies, president of the Cache Education Association, told the board that steps and lanes are a priority to CEA members. “This practice will help teachers feel like they can go into the profession,” said Davies. “If we do not fund them, we will lose the best and the brightest.”

Extended stay motel denied by planning commission

The Smithfield Planning Commission denied David Lillywhite’s request to build an extended stay hotel. The vote was 5 to 2 against. The property at 100 North and 400 West sits alongside the railroad tracks across from Forrester Acres. It’s zoned General Commercial and building a hotel or motel is an allowable use of the land. However, commissioners voting against it cited that it would be disruptive to the community and neighbors.

Agenda: School board year end recognition, 2010-11 budget

The Cache County School District Board of Education meets Thursday evening. The agenda includes recognition of School Teacher of the Year from Greenville, Lewiston, North Park, Park, River Heights, Sunrise and Summit schools. Also recognition of Classified Employees of the Year, 4A Coach of the Year, 4A boys state swimming champions, and Huntsman Awards. The board is expected to consider the budget for next year. The meeting begins Thursday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the technology center (2035 N 1200 E).

New city offices nearly complete

Image: New city offices

New furniture has arrived and city workers are moving it into the new Smithfield City office building. Work will continue over the weekend and with luck the new offices will open Tuesday. It’s been a long time coming since the council started talking about a new building eight years ago. With ups and downs along the way the process is one of those good news, bad news stories.

More from Health Days 2010

Image: Goose Girl

Health Days 2010 was a huge success. The Health Days Fun Run, for example, had 672 runners this year. That’s up from 504 last year. A far cry from the 34 that signed up the first year in 1997. The golf tournament raised over $4000 for Sunrise Elementary and over $1000 for the Library. Brooke Snow and her students took hundreds, even thousands of photographs and posted them online. The results of the Fun Run are also online. We’ve posted links to these websites. If you have other links, photos or other information you’d like to add, please submit them to [email protected].

Noise variance passed, subdivision irrigation concerns

Wednesday night the Smithfield City Council approved a noise variance for Jack B. Parson Companies. The variance gives Parson Co. 12 next-day and 12 48-hour variances to operate their cement blend plant before 6 a.m. The letter from Reed L. Toolson states that some of their customers sometimes like to pour from 4 to 6 a.m. in the summer to avoid the intense heat. “The special noise variance has allowed us to serve our customers better and remain on a level playing field with our competitors,” Toolson wrote.

Sky View Bands end year with “Superior” performance

Image: Symphonic Band

The Sky View bands have come a long way since their first concert last November. It was a good concert for the first trimester. They played a lot of fun songs and had fun themselves. Yet it lacked the cohesiveness of truly great bands. What a difference six months make. Tuesday night the Sky View Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band and Percussion Ensembles delivered superior performances across the board. Rich sound, excellent intonation, tight rhythms, smooth phrasing. No wonder they did so well at state band festivals this year.

Farm fresh in Richmond

Richmond City and Rockhill Creamery will host a farmers market again this summer. The Harvest Market at Rockhill will give valley residents and visitors the opportunity to sell — and buy — fresh produce, homemade crafts and Cottage Kitchen food items each Saturday at the historic Rockhill farm, 563 S. State St.

Mosquito season is here

CACHE COUNTY — A new mosquito season has begun. Cache Mosquito Abatement District (CMAD) workers this week began checking areas of standing water for mosquito larvae and are finding high numbers present. Larvacide is being applied to attack the mosquitoes before they become airborne. This minimizes fogging to kill the adult, airborne mosquitoes.

Agenda: School board looking over budget cuts

The Cache School Board will meet Thursday evening in a study session. The agenda includes “trustlands”, SVHS clubs, and “Race to the Top.” However, it’s likely that the budget discussion will take up the bulk of the meeting. The district needs to cut between $2.4 to $4.7 million from next year’s budget.

Bicentennial Gardens rededicated

Image: Star Garden — The newly restored Star Garden and flagpole. The Richmond Lions Club, Youth Council, and City Council with help from several Scouts and the city maintenance workers did the work of digging up the old weed barrier, putting down new barrier, transplanting tulips, and putting in fresh mulch. When the danger of frost is past, a variety of perennials will be planted to provide color throughout the year.

The city of Richmond enjoyed a rededication ceremony of the Bicentennial Gardens and flagpole on Monday night. The gardens and the flag pole were originally built and planted by the Richmond Bicentennial Committee in 1976 as a memorial to the founders of this country as part of the celebration of the Bicentennial of the year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Blue Sox double header at Health Days

Image: Opening night

The Blue Sox opened their season at Health Days with a double-header against the Ogden Cyclones beating them 6-5 and 13-2. It was the end of the fabulous Health Days activities at Forrester Acres. The Lions Club members served Lion Pups as fast as they could make them, children were playing catch behind the stands, and everyone enjoyed the sunny evening.

Bobcats go down swinging against valley rival Mustangs

Image: Braden Anderson

The Sky View Bobcats baseball team came into Friday’s game with a plan to finish the season on a high note by beating the valley rival Mountain Crest Mustangs, but that was just not meant to be. Unfortunately superb pitching by the Mustangs, and the silent bats and inconsistent defensive play of the Bobcats left them looking to next season as they fell by a score of 8-0 to the Mustangs who finish the season at 18-4 (12-3 Region 5). The Bobcats finish the season at 3-18 overall (3-12 Region 5).

Agenda: Kid’s Korner park, budget, friends of library

The Smithfield City Council will hold their regular meeting Wednesday evening. The agenda includes request for a noise variance, discussion of Kid’s Korner park, interlocal agreement with county for road repairs, friends of the library appointments, setting public hearing for next year’s budget. The meeting will be held in the city council chambers at 69 North Main on Wednesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. UPDATED: Added Redevelopment Agency agenda.

Horse show and rodeo

Image: Mutton Bustin’

Health Days continues with the horse show and children’s rodeo. As the day wears on and the activities wind down, many people migrated to the horse arena. A horse show complete with barrel racing and pole racing was followed by a children’s rodeo with mutton bustin’, stick horse racing and more.

Booths, slides, food, and more

Image: Barrel train

Health Days is in full swing at Forrester Acres. The weather threatened rain, but the sun broke through and everyone is having a good time. Booths, food, bounce houses, climbing wall, Navajo tacos. Everyone is having a great time.

The big parade

Image: Chad Downs

Hundreds of parade participants and thousands of spectators turned out for the Health Days parade in Smithfield. Royalty, Sky View band, antique cars, remote controlled airplane, floats and more candy than you can throw. The Smithfield Citizen of the Year, Chad Downs, was the Grand Marshall.

Hundreds flock to Health Days opening breakfast

Image: Salute

Over 450 people came to eat breakfast at the fire station Saturday morning. “That’s a hundred more than last year,” said Fire Chief Jay Dee Downs. The the line stretched from the serving table to the door as people waited for homemade pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns, ham and milk.

Three Bobcats sign with Otero Junior College

Image: Ready to go — Aubrey Boehme, Taylor Rock and Nicole Hansen.

Starting this September three Lady Bobcats from Sky View will become Rattlers in Colorado. Friday afternoon Aubry Boehme, Taylor Rock, and Nicole Hansen signed letters of intent — and received full-ride scholarships — to attend Otero Junior College in LaJunta, Colorado. “They will only be responsible for books,” said Taylor Wagner, head coach of the women’s basketball team.

Health Days schedule of events

Image: Health Days in Smithfield, Utah

Get ready for the party of the year — Health Days! Saturday is the big day with events starting early in the morning with the fire department’s pancake breakfast and ending late in the evening with a fireworks show! The day is packed with activities of every kind. Use the schedule below to make your final preparations for tomorrow then come and have fun!

Bobcats have another rough time against the Grizzlies

In what was somewhat of a Region 5 pillow-fight, the Logan Grizzlies roughed up and made short work of the Sky View Bobcats winning 12-2 in six innings. The Bobcats (3-16, 3-10 Region 5) continue to struggle this season and fall to fifth place where they will finish regardless of the outcome in their season finale against second place Mountain Crest Mustangs.

Bobcats continue struggle on soccer field

Image: Tanner Crocket — Tanner Crocket passes to an open teammate.

Senior Tanner Crockett shined as the Sky View Bobcats Boys Soccer Teams’ struggles continued Tuesday night at Crimson Field, as the Bobcats (1-12-2) fell to the Logan Grizzlies, 6-3. With one game remaining in the season, the Bobcats remain winless in Region 5 action (0-7) and have only one win to their credit, a 2-0 victory coming in their second game of the season to Morgan from Region 11.

Canal shareholders vote to seek loan

Shareholders of a local canal company have voted to seek a loan to fund their portion of the canal renovation. Keith Meikle, President of the Logan, Hyde Park, Smithfield Canal Company — also called the “upper” canal company — said the vote was part of a special Monday night meeting.

Grizzlies cruise Bobcats in rivalry game

SMITHFIELD—Led by the timely hitting of sophomore Adam Snow, Sky View blasted Valley rival Logan Tuesday for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The problem for the Bobcats was they gave up eight runs earlier in the game.

Nice weather, friends & family kick off Health Days Family Bike Ride

Image: Tour de Smithfield

The Family Bike Ride kicked off Health Days week. The weather was perfect at Mack Park — sunny and cool. Over a hundred riders as young as three (usually in trailers) to, well, much older came to enjoy the evening air and have fun with their family and friends. “It’s just to have a good time,” said event organizer Leslie Clegg. The cyclists ride up the canyon on the paved road to the campground and come back. “It’s not a race,” added Clegg. “They come back and they have a drawing on gifts. There’s apples and bananas and all kinds of fun gifts for just coming and having fun.”

Tickets still available for American Festival Chorus concert

Image: American Festival Chorus

Tickets still available for Thursday’s concert. The Smithfield Health Days Committee presents Craig Jessop and the American Festival Chorus for an inspiring evening of music Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Sky View High School Auditorium. This highlight of the Health Days celebration is a special fundraising event to raise scholarship money for winners of the annual Health Days Scholarship Program. Tickets are available in advance at Lee’s Marketplace in Smithfield and Logan for $10 per person and at the door the night of the concert for $15 per person. American Festival Chorus, with Director, Dr. Craig Jessop

Murder in the chair

Image: The thirteen chairs

Sometimes high school is just murder. Especially if you are one particular Sky High Player in The Thirteenth Chair. As the last of the three plays put on by the players, the Chair isn’t a comedy like Meet Me In St. Louis although it has it’s funny moments nor is it a drama like 12 Angry Women but still has dramatic tension. Instead, it’s a good old-fashioned whodunnit.

Plat approved for Neighborhood Non-Profit Housing Corporation

SMITHFIELD—The Smithfield City Council voted unanimously to approve the final plat for the Park Place Subdivision located at 600 West and 250 North, pending a final review by City Attorney Bruce Jorgensen. Mayor Simmons expressed concern about a lawsuit filed against Neighborhood Non-Profit Housing Corporation (NNHC). “I know the parties involved aren’t happy about this pending approval tonight. My concern is this: Has everything been conducted to the letter of the law?”

Agenda: New elementary school names, bullying policy

Image: CCSD Board of Education agenda

The Cache County Board of Education will meet Thursday evening to consider: naming the new elementary schools in Nibley and Smithfield; policy regarding bullying and hazing; revised retirement policy; 2010-2011 school fees. The board meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at 2035 North 1200 East, North Logan. It is open to the public.

Richmond woman threatens to kill family

A 36-year old Richmond woman is in jail after allegedly threatening her family with a kitchen knife. A Cache County Sheriff press release states deputies responded to a domestic violence call Monday night at 17 North 185 East, #17 .

The parade route…

I’ve lived in wonderful Smithfield all of my life. It is a great place to raise a family. And, as a young person I remember those glorious Health Day Parades down Main Street. Many years ago my mother was the director for the parade. We had floats, numerous bands, and even F-16 Fighter jets fly over at the precise moment when the parade started. I am deeply saddened that the parade will not be on are beautiful tree lined Main Street. Those who have not lived here that long or who have no sense of tradition do not realize what this means to we long time residents.

New Health Days Royalty for 2010

Image: Royalty 2010 — Health Days Royalty for 2010 — Jordan Rock, Mallory Sorensen, Elizabeth Wilkey, Stephanie Bland, and Melanie Buchanan.

Five new girls wear the tiara for the Health Days Royalty of 2010. Jordan Rock, Mallory Sorensen, Elizabeth Wilkey, Stephanie Bland, and Melanie Buchanan were selected from 13 contestants Saturday night. The evening began with an excellent introduction by an A Capella group with no name.