News about Cache Valley and USU
from the Department of Journalism & Communication
February 20, 2012
All the Local News:
USU president bullish on university—‘We are so good!”; predicts 5-7% tuition increase; students asked to pay $30/semester for rec center; Powell boys remembered with balloons; Valentine’s traditions; Aggie BluePrint & Aggie TV News . . . and more
WHAT WINTER?—Utah’s snowpack statewide is 63% of normal, and 70% in northern Utah. Which seems strange, because we’ve had practically no snow this winter. Here, the Wellsvilles on the west side of Cache Valley float over a February inversion. (Ted Pease photo)CACHE VALLEY & UTAH NEWS
Aggie TV News—Balloons for the Powell boys, Valentine’s Day preps, art for lovers in SLC, Mardi Gras on campus, Soul Food Dinner, Sushi Restaurant opens, ROTC training, and lots of Aggie Basketball and more!
North Logan council OK’s 64-unit townhouse development
By Steve Kent
NORTH LOGAN — A new housing development near North Logan’s planned City Center is one step closer to construction. The City Council approved the plan for “the Cove at North Logan,” 64 townhouses on 5.5 acres at the southeast corner of 2200 North and 400 East.
Wellsville to offer emergency responder training to residentsBy Jimena Herrero
WELLSVILLE — The Cache County Sheriff’s Office and the Cache County Response Team are offering an eight-week emergency training program, beginning March 8.
Hyrum council members seeking ways to revitalize trailer park
By Tara Alvey
HYRUM–What can be done to revitalize the community? City Administrator D. Brent Jensen asked City Council members Thursday to drive through the city’s mobile home park and consider that question. “If I recall correctly, about 70 percent of the crime in Hyrum originates from the trailer park,” said Councilman Craig L. Rasmussen.
Hyde Park Planning Commission amends highway access law
By Shannon McCleve
HYDE PARK—Beautifying roadways and making them safer were on the agenda for the Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday. Commissioners discussed maintaining a 99-foot right-of-way on 3700 North Street, but decreasing the amount of asphalt. “It beautifies what we have instead of filling it with asphalt,” said Commissioner Reed Elder.
Historic railroad photos document changes in ‘forgotten’ West
By Chris LeeLOGAN – Members of the Cache Valley Historical Society, railroad enthusiasts, and students gathered Wednesday to learn about the photographs of Andrew J. Russell and the Union Pacific Railroad. Daniel Davis, photo curator at the USU Merrill-Cazier Library’s Special Collections and Archives, showed examples of Russell’s photographs during the Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library lecture. Russell’s photographs make up “The Forgotten Photographs of the Union Pacific Railroad” on display in the library lobby.
River Heights to pay $14K to employee for retirement fund mistake
By Sean O’Sullivan
RIVER HEIGHTS – The city of River Heights will be writing a compensation check for $14,000 to Public Works Director Clayten Nelson. Councilman Doug Clausen said Nelson was misled by his predecessor into believing that his Utah Retirement Systems account would continue to have money added to it. However, River Heights’ personnel policy states that River Heights does not offer retirement.
81-year-old motorist injured in Main Street collision with dump truck
By Mary Stocking
LOGAN—An 81-year-old Logan woman was injured in a collision with a dump truck at Main Street and 400 North shortly before noon Wednesday. Assistant Logan Police Chief Jeff Curtis said Phyllis Smart’s silver Hyundai Sonata collided with a “loaded” dump truck when Smart attempted to turn across oncoming traffic onto 400 North. Witnesses said her vehicle was struck on the passenger side and spun into the posts supporting the Phillips 66 gas sign on the northeast corner of the intersection. Smart was taken to Logan Regional Hospital and then transferred to Mackay-Dee Hospital in Ogden.Flood damage not enough to qualify Mendon for government aid
By Josh Ruggles
MENDON — “It kind of makes you emotional to see so many people come together as a community and do what needed to be done,” said Mayor Ed Buist. January floods caused nearly $35,000 in damage in Mendon, but $300,000 in damage is required to qualify for state aid, the total repair cost must exceed $1 million to qualify for federal disaster assistance.
Smithfield OK’s housing density increases for developers
By Jessica Wilkinson
SMITHFIELD — Members of the City Council found themselves in disagreement Wednesday as two ordinances were introduced and discussed. Though public hearings lacked participation, the council thoroughly addressed both issues. “I’ve always fought for the other side,” said Councilwoman Kris Monson, in response to Ordinance 11-16, which addresses residential density. “I hate seeing too many people in a small space.”
Charles Dickens’ famous works keyed off his own life, professor says
Story & photo by Sean O’Sullivan
LOGAN – The key to Charles Dickens’ success is simple: he wrote about himself. David Copperfield is as close to an autobiography as Dickens ever came, said Brian McCuskey, associate professor of English at Utah State University. McCuskey helped Logan Library celebrate Dickens’ 200th birthday recently by speaking to a large audience about Dickens’ life and works.
Hyde Park council approves online bill payment for city’s customers
By Shannon McCleve
HYDE PARK — It’s going to get a little easier to pay your bills for Hyde Park, and the City Council has approved the plan for online payment.
Cache Valley turns out to mourn Powell boys with balloons
By April Ashland
LOGAN—About 100 Cache Valley residents turned out Friday at the Cache County Courthouse to mourn Charlie and Braden Powell, two boys trapped in the unsolved murder of their mother, who died last week when their father’s house in Puyallup, Wash., exploded.
Wellsville seeks possible princesses; apply at city office
By Jimena Herrero
WELLSVILLE—The tradition of choosing a princess to represent the city has been a part of this small town for many years. While the ceremonies surrounding the city princess have changed throughout the decades, the tradition remains an important part of the community.
Bill to remove some sex offenders from registry moves to Senate
By April Ashland
Radio Story by Ashley Tolman
SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah House unanimously passed a proposed bill Tuesday that would permit registered sex offenders to petition to have their names expunged from the statewide registry after five years.
• Listen to Utah Public Radio story
Utah Rep. Jack Draxler of North Logan, who sponsored HB 113, used the example of a man convicted at 19 for having sex with a 15-year-old. The young man later married her, and they now have four children.
New housing development, commercial building OK’d in ProvidenceBy Steve Crass
PROVIDENCE — Plans to erect a new commercial general building and a single family residential area are moving forward after a public hearing at Thursday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The new building will be located at the intersection of 440 West and 100 North St.
USU NEWS
MEET THE PRESS—Journalism students grill USU President Stan Albrecht during wide-ranging press conference. (Ted Pease photo)
Tuition will rise at least 5%, USU president tells journalism students
By Chris Lee and Tmera Bradley
LOGAN – Utah State University President Stan Albrecht says students should expect at least a 5 percent tuition increase in the future. “Yes, there will be tuition increases,” Albrecht said. “Will they be like they have been? Probably not.” He said he is going to do everything he can to keep tuition down, but that Tier I tuition—the amount set statewide for all Utah students—will rise 5 percent, while Tier II tuition, set at the campus level, will not increase any more than 2 percent, for a maximum 7 percent increase in Fall 2012. “I hope we’ll be closer to 0 percent,” Albrecht said.
Albrecht confident in annual dance with Legislature: ‘We are so good’By Natasha Bodily
LOGAN—“I’ve been in a dark mood, so I wore a dark tie,” USU President Stan Albrecht quipped to a conference room full of student journalists Wednesday. Following his recent trips to the Utah Capitol, Albrecht was tired but upbeat, taking a wide range of student questions during an hour-long press conference.
18 beauties celebrate Valentine’s Day solo to show men how it’s done
Story & Photos by Mary StockingLOGAN—Giggles and laughter echoed through the hallways of Taggart Student Center Tuesday over the reverberating footsteps of passersby as a group of USU roommates celebrated a date-free Valentine’s Day with a special picnic. Britnee Bromley and 17 of her friends, all residents of the on-campus Living Learning Community housing complex, came together for a celebration of the “She-Woman Man-Haters Club” on red and pink blankets placed on the TSC’s cold tile floor. The women raucously toasted the occasion with champagne flutes of Martinelli sparkling cider, dressed in their finest.
USU president meets the press, touts USU growth, buildings and future
By Kristi Ottley
LOGAN—Utah State University is undergoing a makeover, with many new additions to its campus and landscape—a new veterinary school, multiple new buildings, and a luxurious new Aggie Rec Center in its near future. USU President Stan Albrecht is bullish on USU’s health, quality and future. “We should go into [the Utah Legislature] and do a shout-out,” Albrecht said at Wednesday’s press conference with student journalists for Hard News Café and Aggie TV News. “Because we are so good—you are so good. We’ve been doing such great things!”
DigitalCommons—USU’s online intellectual and creative treasure chest
By Kyndall Peterson
LOGAN—Buying new books and scholarly journals is an expensive proposition, and as a result, academic libraries struggle to keep their place as major intellectual resource in the face of competition from digital technologies. Utah State University has addressed this problem by creating its own Internet repository of research and resources from its faculty and students—DigitalCommons.
Proposed Rec Center, playing fields depend on $30 student fee vote
By Rebecca Holliday
LOGAN—Utah State University is asking students to approve a big new fee to pay for a multimillion Aggie Recreation Center (ARC), which officials say will drastically improve resources for campus recreation. The proposed fee will initially be $30 per semester, rising to $75 per semester once the new ARC, which will include a new building and sports fields, opens in about four years. Students will vote on the fee question this month.
Windows on the past: Old yearbooks reveal USU during WWI
By Liz Wilson
Aggie BluePrint
LOGAN—An epic portrayal of World War I has hit the big screen in the film War Horse. The film’s story follows the lives of a young horse and his owner during the tumultuous years leading up to World War I. While watching the film I couldn’t help but be caught up in the story and the war that will mark its 100th anniversary in two years.
Log Cabin to USU Republicans: Get involved, work together for change
By Tara Alvey
LOGAN — “Being a gay Republican sounds like an oxymoron to a lot of people. But picking a party is about a lot of issues, not just sexual orientation,” Utah Log Cabin Republican James Humphreys told a Logan audience. “I’m still treated as a second-class citizen in this country in many respects because I’m gay, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to my grave that way,” he said.
Whether Hersey’s or something finer, a love affair with chocolate
By Rebecca Holliday
LOGAN—Chocolate and Valentine’s Day have been celebrated around the world for centuries. In honor of this month’s love-charged and confection-filled holiday, Utah State’s Museum of Anthropology has focused on the history of chocolate. During a recent open house, students, faculty and local residents gathered on the second floor of Old Main to enjoy chocolate treats and learn about the history of chocolate around the world.
Smoochie-smoochie—Valentine’s Day a mixed bag for loversBy Natasha Bodily
LOGAN—Love is in the air—or maybe not. As Valentine’s Day dawns, unpaired people begin to feel the despair of spending the romantic holiday alone. Even for those with significant others, the holiday can be a hit-or-miss. Expectations are high for the Day of True Love, and many couples feel pressure to succeed at affection.
The Green Beam—USU’s nighttime landmark the world’s largest laser
By Lindsay Nemelka
Aggie BluePrint
LOGAN—The mysterious green beam can be seen shining above campus on clear nights. Even though half-serious suspicions of UFO contact circulate, the beam is actually a super-concentrated laser used to take atmospheric temperatures. USU’s “lidar” laser is the biggest of its kind in the world.
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Department of Journalism & Communication
Utah State University
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