THE SITE THAT LETS YOU KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN UTAH
Since November 5, 2008 the Mayor Pro Tem of Eureka has been publishing, through city's expense, a newsletter, "Ruby Gulch Reporter". In that first newsletter he stated that Mountain High Federal Credit Union could get government backed loans for up to $250,000. The Vice-President stated in a November 10th meeting that they could never go that high, especially at the time of the meeting.
He also thanked Thelma Berry and the Considine family for an American flag and State flag respectively that would fly over the Historic City Hall. Neither flag was ever flown.
By March the "Ruby Gulch Reporter" AKA Mayor's Newsletter, the publication was published as a periodical with Volume 1 Issue 1. Hanks was going to arrange to have geothermal and wind power started in Eureka. To date nether has appeared or even close.
He also stated that he was developing the city's own website even though the city council had already commissioned Theron Hardin to develop one. So by March of 2009 a Eureka website had already been developed and published for almost a year and only awaiting the city to approve the purchase ($100).
The April publication stated, in the Mayor's Blog, that the first phase of engineering on wind power feasibility has been completed. (That started in September 2009). Even there he stated that it may even be able to generate more power that the Spanish Fork Facility (really?). Again he stated, "I have also started the studies for geothermal power generation". Most were impressed if confused that Hanks has the knowledge to do a study on geothermal power and could do it in Utah County to boot. Then he went on to say that, "I have been courting a high tech carbon composites company to encourage them to build their new plant in Eureka. Next to the proposed location for the wind farm". That location still has not had a wind study done as of this writing. Oh yes, "The construction should start this summer." (Ain't summer no more Mayor).
"We will probably have cell service by mid summer." He went on, "I have been working on this for months and it's finally going to happen." (Still no cell service and again it ain't summer no more.) The Mayor did have a "Name that Paper" drive and got the new name for his "paper" of "Eureka Review".
The July-August publication of the "Eureka Review" had two-thirds of the front page devoted to the "Mayor's Blog". "We still anticipate cell service by Silver Days. (August 15th)." And, "You may or may not be charged for roaming." "Work is proceeding on the restoration preservation of the Memorial Building and old City Hall." The Memorial Building had a pipe burst during the winter and was being repaired at the cost of the insurance company and no one knows of any restoration of the old City Hall.
"The days of "fix it yourself" are long gone. National building codes require that all repairs/renovations must have building permits and work done by licensed contractors in a commercial district." That's just all wrong and caused a big uproar later when threats of liens were threatened against all properties in Eureka. That story appeared in this paper.
"The wind power engineers will be back in town the week of the 20th for more tests." Are those the tests that have already been so successful that we will exceed Spanish Fork in power generation?
Let's just jump to the last Eureka Review where Hanks gets another front page, with picture, to tout his wonderfulness as Mayor and why he should be so again. His quotes are in quotation marks, truth added within parentheses.
"We have repaired and renovated the Memorial Building." (Insurance repaired the water damage done by a broken pipe and the city replaced a hot water heater.)
"We have a newsletter.". (Paid for by the citizens that generally could care less and was never approved by the city council.)
".a truthful reliable city website." (Not completed as of this newsletter and at a cost of over $1900. Worked on by Councilman Tom Nedreburg and not Hanks and had already been developed.)
"We've started on the baseball complex at the park." (Grant worked on by David Waite and had nothing to do with Hanks. Also could have been completed this last spring.)
"The wind test tower is in place.". (Is that the one that was completed in April?)
"Wind power could bring jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars into the city." (Just figure that one out on your own.)
"It looks like the cell tower is finally on its way." (At this writing there has not been any contract agreed to and even if it is, the tower most likely won't be up till early summer 2010.) continued, "Through no fault of the city." (Mayor Hanks just announced a change in the contract at the last City Council that would most likely squash any deal that is on the table at this time.)
"New business has opened in town...barbeque and the Summit Café." (The barbeque is on the side of the road some Fridays and the Summit Café is just the reopening of a restaurant that closed last year and not a "new business" at all and I truly doubt that Hanks had anything to do with it opening.)
Last but not least; this is a project that Eureka Mayor Hanks has been working for, for those in Utah County: "Perfect Paper has finally decided to start construction in Elberta." (This could be a surprise to First Quality Tissue and the Utah County Commission who just now unveiled a long-range master plan for the Goshen Valley on October 1, 2009. First Quality Tissue is expecting to have a plant up and running by 2011 and the infrastructure most likely not be ready by then.)
The last quote, "If you feel I've done a good job, vote for me. If not, don't."
If producing enough hot air to inflate Albuquerque's yearly balloon festival is the top reason for being a Mayor, then he should win by a landslide.
Thelma Barry
Eureka
Eureka's Waite's Store Closed
Editor:
If you're wondering:
Because I know from past experiences how fast fun rumors can spread, I thought I'd nip it in the bud.¬
Why we're closing.¬ Somebody asked me yesterday if it had anything to do with the "City Council Thing."¬ I said, "No."¬ Well, maybe it does.¬ I saw Dave's stress level lower by double digits when he left City Council.¬ I saw him smiling again.¬ I saw him ask people, "How are you doing today?" and not put up his metal shield because they were about to spew on him about some issue, but never intend on taking one hour from their time to show up at a council meeting.¬ Oh, but let a rumor fly and watch people move from their seats!¬ I know, because I have attended many, many meetings since we have moved here, and I'm sure the walls have been re-painted several times since some of those people at recent meetings have warmed those seats.¬ I hope with our new council, that people actually take the time to go and at least listen to what is happening in their own town so when rumors do fly, they know the truth.
¬ Back to why we're closing.¬ One word fits great; F-A-M-I-L-Y, our family.¬ I will be home schooling Jackie for at least the rest of this year.¬ Refer to above paragraph as to why Jackie is being targeted at school.¬ That is not a learning environment; it's a battlefield that because of who you are seems to give more ammunition.¬ How many times have you heard, "Oh, that's so-in-so's child, he or she has always been like that."¬ ¬ It's accepted, it's "how it is."¬ Well, "how it is" has never set well with me.¬ I, myself, even though I'd like to think so, cannot change "how it is."¬ It takes the courage of many.¬ I'm taking on the added responsibility of teaching my own child, so she knows that "how it is" doesn't make it mandatory to be shoved down her throat.¬ And, please, with all due respect, don't come to me and say, "I'm sorry."¬ DO SOMETHING!¬ ANYTHING!¬
I will address this as I have taught Jackie:¬ Those same kids, down the road, will understand that their last names, who their daddy is, etc, will not mean one thing after they slide down that slant going into the valley.¬ There are few jobs in Eureka.¬ Those parents have put into those children's' heads that because they are a "Smith" or a "Williams" (names picked off the top of my head) that they have special rights, or do not have to follow rules.¬ Fine, but I pity those children.¬ The valley does not give a rat's behind who you are, or who your daddy is.¬ Ask some of our seniors from last year who have attended college if they have received special attention because they are a Smith or a Williams. ¬ Watch the expression on the job interviewer's face when those seniors say, "I'm John Smith from Eureka, and my daddy is Jo Smith." ¬ Most people outside a 50 mile radius do not even know or care where Eureka is, much less who your daddy is.¬ Parents...buck up and teach your children some responsibility.¬ Eureka is NOT even a close example as to how the rest of the world is.¬ If you're not going to take on the responsibility, don't even think about whining when they leave and people don't treat them "all special like."¬
Also, because of the economy (another reason to re-read above paragraph) our older children will be coming home.¬ And with them is included the most beautiful 2 year old ¬1/2 Latino granddaughter.¬ Some of my customers have issues with color.¬ I said, "SOME." ¬ Even with an 8 X 10 picture staring them in the face of our family of many colors & cultures, racial slurs flow from their mouths like venom. ¬ Our children come from a place where colors are not considered; that was finished in the 1960's & 70's.¬ I have taught my children to judge by who's inside, not what's outside.¬ This also seems to be a lesson that has yet to be listened to in Eureka for some.¬ I know it's been taught.¬ Guess there were a lot of absences that day....like attendances at City Council?
Now, we've had WAY too much fun running the store.¬ I've met some great people here in our town.¬ We've brought down the price of milk by at least a $1.00 a gallon in Eureka; Sorry, I couldn't help with the price of gas.¬
So, Dave is going back to having only one full time job, and I'm going to stay home and take care of my family.¬ I'm looking forward to waking up to a clean house every day again, canning mass quantities of fruits & vegetables, and spending more time one on one with my family.
To my senior citizen customers, and my parents with small children:¬ You are the reason I opened the store.¬ Dave works in SLC at least three days / week. If you need something, and cannot get to the valley, you call me at home.¬ I'll call Dave and you will have it.¬ Please do not feel as if you are forced to pay a ridiculous price for something, or that you must go without.¬ DAVE DOES NOT MIND.¬
Thanks for being our customer and thank you for letting us feel like we have had a small role in taking care of our neighbors and friends.¬ And, as always, I will speak my mind not because I'm a Waite, and not because of who my daddy is (I know, none of you even know or care...my point) but because if it helps somebody, or makes a change for the better, I'll stand up and shout it from a mountaintop, and I'm not afraid to put it in writing.¬
And, please don't worry about what this will do to us financially.¬ We made sure our family was taken care of, and that we did not put our own financial situation in any jeopardy.¬ I've said it many times, "The store is a hobby; it keeps me from re-arranging the furniture."
Stop by, and we'll "bend the fence" of the garden.¬ We always grow enough to share.¬
Lucy & David Waite
Eureka, Utah
Letter: Proud to be a citizen of Eureka
In the recent past, we have gotten some negative press on the Web and in the Nebo Reporter newspaper by a couple of citizens in our small town to which I would like to reply the following:
As a long-time citizen of Eureka and part of a family who has lived in Eureka since its early years, I would like to say to anyone who lives here or would like to move here, "You are welcome!" But we will not sit around and do or say nothing while you belittle our small town and the people in it, and tell lies and half-truths and twist information to fit your needs. This is our home and we are very proud to be a part of it and if you do not like how things are here, there is always a town somewhere else that may be glad to accept you the way that you are.
Teri Underwood
Eureka
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