RICHMOND — Scottish games involving feats of strength will be coming to Richmond in September. Wesley Allen, from Smithfield, said he wants to use a Richmond baseball diamond for the Scottish Highland Games, which mostly involve throwing heavy objects such as hammers and wooden poles.

The Richmond City Council unanimously approved of the use when Allen asked permission at the council meeting Tuesday.

Allen represented the Cache Valley Highland Throwers at the meeting. He said people love coming to Cache Valley for the games because of the beautiful mountain backdrop, but because of financial and other reasons the games were cancelled by Wellsville. He said the throwers want to continue the games.

“The Scottish Highland Games are heavy games, some consider ‘strong man’ type of games,” Allen said. “One of the major appeals of the ball diamond is the sand, Instead of throwing into grass we can throw into sand.”

The bleachers will also make it easier for more people to watch the games, Allen said. He said another benefit to putting the games on in a baseball diamond is they could make the games free for spectators. He said people competing would still need to pay a fee.

According to Allen the games will include events such as hammer throwing, caber toss, and sheaf toss. He said the Cache Valley Highland Throwers hope to hold the event Sept. 22.

Councilman Jeff Young said the games could be an asset to Richmond. He said there is a hamburger stand near the field that the youth council runs that would benefit from the people coming to Richmond for the games. “I personally really like the idea of just having something that that field is used for,” Young said. “Right now it’s used a few times a year.”

Young said he feels the throwers should not be charged for the use of the field. He said small local events fit Richmond. “That fits Richmond perfectly, a small community, something unique, something fun,” Young said.

Councilwoman Terrie Wierenga said the throwers would need to get insurance for the event.

Later in the meeting Salam Awada, owner of AG Sci Tech, asked the council to rezone the land west of 400 West and south of 200 South. The rezone would change the land from agricultural to manufacturing/light industrial.

The council agreed that the land could be used by Awada for his business creating soil conditioners for agriculture use without rezoning, if Awada applied for a conditional use permit from Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission.

Councilman Brad Jensen said he has problems with a rezone, but would approve of the business being built in agricultural land with a conditional use permit. He said the business is agriculturally based and may be approved for conditional use.

Awada agreed to apply for conditional use with the commission.

Published in cooperation with the Hard News Cafe. Original story is here.