$1.50 Dec. 1, 2023 | Vol. 2 Iss. 46
Local artists create display windows at downtown store
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Ogden, UT Permit #190
The magic of Christmas at Macy’s
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NEWS BREAK Truce in Israel/Palestine war extended A brief humanitarian truce has been extended by several days in the Israel/Palestine war. Hailed as a success by many parties on both sides of the conflict, the truce comes as part of an agreement for a prisoner/hostage exchange between the warring nations. The truce, though temporary, may signal a mutual sentiment of a desire for a longer, more permanent cessation of hostilities. Though a significant step forward, there are still many hostages that have yet to be released at the time of going to print. GERRIT NOORDA at his cocoa stand last year.
Mountain Green teen continues Evie’s Gift Hot Cocoa Stand By Verlene Johnson
I
t’s that time of year once again when Mountain Green’s Gerrit Noorda sets up Evie’s Gift Hot Cocoa Stand at the entrance of Rollins Ranch. Over the past 10 years, 17 year-old, Gerrit has sold hot chocolate along with donuts as a fundraiser donating the money to families who have lost a newborn infant. This year, Gerrit decided he wanted all money raised from his stand to go to a very special boy. Sam Dingman, a freshman at Morgan High School, was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in July of 2022. For the past 16 months, Sam has been undergoing treatment for cancer with 11 more months to go. Sam’s situation is different as he is the only Down
syndrome child in the nation who has been diagnosed with this type of cancer. Gerrit had the opportunity to be a peer tutor for Sam during the first trimester of this school year. Because of his love for Sam, Gerrit chose to help Sam’s family with the costs of his medical treatment through Evie’s Gift Hot Cocoa Stand. When Gerrit did his first cocoa stand 11 years ago at the age of seven, his parents asked him what he was going to buy himself with the money. They were surprised when he said, “Mom, I’m not buying myself anything, I’m going to give it to Aunt Chris for ‘Evie’s Gift’!”
2023 sees return to brick-and-mortar on Black Friday Black Friday, traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year, has seen a gradual taper as more and more consumers turn to online shopping. According to some studies, however, 2023 saw a slight increase in foot traffic for brick-and-mortar stores. Sales across the board, both online and in-person saw an increase from 2022, despite inflation. Analysts from these studies predict a healthy shopping season this year leading up to the holidays, as indicated by the bump in sales on Black Friday.
US Navy ship fired at in Middle-East
EVIE’S GIFT on page 3
GERRIT NOORDA and Sam Dingman.
Photos by the Noorda Family
Morgan County Fire Department purchases new ladder truck By Verlene Johnson
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ith homes being built taller and taller and the three-story high school, Morgan County Fire Department found it necessary to have a ladder truck in their station. In the past, Dave Rich, MCFD’s former fire chief, and MCFD’s current Fire Marshall, attended several county council meetings over the years asking for funding to purchase a ladder truck. With new ladder trucks costing upward of $1.9 million this reality seemed far out of reach. With that being the case for the department, they tried to make do with the equipment they had to set themselves up for success. Most fires require a ladder to put firefighters safely on a roof for vertical ventilation. Ladders are also used to shoot water down on the fire versus trying to shoot water up to the fire.
LADDER TRUCK on page 6
The USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden when they were fired on by the vessel. The projectiles landed far short of the Mason, and the destroyer was able to intercept and apprehend insurgents who had taken control of her. At the time of going to print, it’s unconfirmed who the pirates were, but, Yemen has claimed the terrorist Houthi militias were responsible, and denounced their actions vehemently.
Indian tunnel workers rescued from collapse
FLAG FLYING FOR THE first time from Ladder truck 121 at the bridge opening.
Courtesy photo
Trapped underground since Nov. 12, 41 tunnel workers from India were rescued this week after crews worked tirelessly to drill through 200 feet of rock, and collapsed concrete and metal. Immediately following the collapse, authorities drilled a small passage to get the workers food and medical supplies, and doctors on-site reported that each worker was in good health and good spirits. The tunnel was part of a large expansion of transportation in the region, designed to improve connectivity for Hindu pilgrimage sites in the area.