Seniors pass their light on as they graduate
The class of 2025 walked hand in hand with kindergarteners page 12
MORGAN COUNTY NEWS
WITCHES RIDE ONCE AGAIN IN MORGAN
Saturday, Oct. 19, witches descended on Riverside Park in Morgan, but instead of riding broom sticks, they rode on bikes.
Brooke Brooks started the Witches Ride five years ago that has gone from just a few witches in its first year to adding more
and more every year. While making the 4.5 mile ride witches throw candy to children as they come out when they hear the witches cackles. Brooks hopes that this Morgan tradition will continue to grow and stay a staple in the community for Halloween.l
Michelle Cummins, is ready for the Witches Ride.
Carol Brooks, SaRene Brooks and Brooke Brooks. Courtesy photos
A LOOK BACK
HONORS ABOUT EQUAL IN MORGAN CITY ELECTION
The municipal election passed peacefully and quietly in Morgan. Mayor S.B. Dunn, present incumbent succeeding himself for the ensuing two years. The candidate receiving the banner vote was Mrs. Anna Sommers, city recorder, who received a total of 283 votes. The republicans elected the 4-year councilman and two of the 2-year councilman. For treasurer, the honor went to the democratic candidate, the present incumbent.
GOVERNOR SETS ARMISTICE DAY
A proclamation urging the people of Utah to observe Armistice day, Monday, Nov. 11, and the usual two-minute period of silence at 11 a.m. on that day, was signed Monday by Governor Henry H. Blood. The governor points out that since the original Armistice day, 17 years ago, making the termination of the World War, “peace has been the keynote of observance of the successive anniversaries.”
AMERICA FOR PEACE
The main lines of American policy are clear. This country has no aggressive ambition of any kind. We make no threat against the territory or the safety of any other country. We are prepared to defend ourselves against any threat to our own safety and welfare. We are determined not to enter into armed conflicts that may arise between other countries, and to enforce such policies may be required to avoid that risk.
AN IMPROVED CONSTITUTION
You do not want to tell your students what to think. You want to teach them how to think – how to separate truth from error – which means, in the last analysis, how to find facts and how to use them for the achievement of a more abundant life… We must even have the facts about the Constitution of the United States.
AN APPRECIATION
We wish to express our appreciation to the citizens of Morgan for their confidence in our ability to administer the affairs of the city. An honest effort will be made to justify your faith in us and to serve the interests of the people to the best of our ability.
Historic election brings out large number of voters
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
Asresults started to pour in from voting precincts on Nov. 5, election staff kept busy counting ballots after voters turned out in large numbers to cast their votes in person. In a heated race for the White House, former President Donald J. Trump was victorious
U.S. PRESIDENT
DONALD J. TRUMP / JD VANCE
Republican
78.49% Votes: 5,064
KAMALA D. HARRIS / TIM WALZ Democratic 18.46% Votes: 1,191
U.S. SENATE JOHN CURTIS
U.S. HOUSE 1
BLAKE D. MOORE
Votes: 5,280
over Vice President Kamala D. Harris who took over the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden stepped down. Trump lost his bid for the presidency in 2020.
Closer to home, Gov. Spencer J. Cox was reelected by a convincing margin. Elec-
tion results were more than two hours late after polls closed because of long polling lines and due to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office announcing that no results would be posted until after the last votes were cast. John Curtis won decisively in Morgan County for the U.S. Senate and Blake Moore retained his seat in U.S. House 1. Kera Birkeland also retained her seat in State House 4 (multi-county). Amendments B and C also passed by large margins. l
STATE HOUSE 8 (MULTI-COUNTY)
JASON B KYLE
Votes: 571
COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT #1
RAELENE BLOCKER
83.07% Votes: 5,354 GOVERNOR
SPENCER
KERA YATES BIRKELAND
81.32% Votes: 4,596
LEE BROOKS
HARRIS NICKERSON
JANELL H. WALKER
5,596
MORGAN COUNTY RECORDER SHAUN CALVIN ROSE
MORGAN COUNTY TREASURER
KIMBERLY REED HARRISON
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT C
The State Board of Higher Education rolled out a new program Oct. 4 called Admit Utah, that guarantees high school graduates admission to at least one of the 16 public universities, colleges or technical colleges in the state. The concept is to help remove any barriers to students receiving a college education.
“Admit Utah marks a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure that every Utah student has access to a quality college education,” Utah Board of Higher Education member Cydni Tetro said in a statement. “This platform will provide students with even more clarity and simplicity in the college application process, empowering them to pursue their educational aspirations with confidence.”
Utah follows several other states that have instituted similar direct or guaranteed admissions to public colleges with Idaho being the first in 2015. The hope is to reach students who might not have been considering higher education.
In Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties three institutions are taking the state’s initiative even further by creating the Northern Wasatch Collegiate Coalition, comprising Weber State University, Davis Technical College and Ogden-Weber Technical College to launch a direct admissions program for 10,000 high school seniors.
“We’re working with our four school district partners and charter schools and private schools in our region,” said Weber State University president, Brad Mortensen at a kickoff celebration last week. “So what that means is in the next few weeks, 10,000 high school seniors in Weber, Davis and Morgan counties will be receiving letters of admittance to our three institutions without ever filling out an admissions application or paying an application fee.”
This means a great deal to students who may wonder if they’re college materi-
State implements direct admissions program
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
al or who are scared about filling out high school or college admissions applications, he said. “That’s no longer a barrier to them. We think this will provide great promise to the students in our region to take advantage of that guarantee that college is really available to everyone.”
“Our community is stronger with accessible, quality higher education,” said Darin Brush, Davis Technical College president. “Fortunately our region enjoys three nationally recognized higher education institutions and we’ve harnessed this advantage for collective impact in Northern Utah.”
In Utah, nearly 40% of our high school
Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
students don’t enroll in higher education within three years after graduation, he said. “We want to change that. After three years the likelihood that they ever will drops dramatically. We also want our kids who don’t think they are cut out for college to understand that we want them at our institutions and that we are committed to their success.”
“We’re also launching two additional programs to streamline the transition for students who might choose to go to one of our technical college partners first and then hope to pursue an associates or a bachelor’s degree at Weber State,” said Mortensen. “The first of those programs is called jump-
start. What that means is for students who are taking their certificate program at a technical college, they can take core general education courses through Weber State University for the same tuition that they pay at the technical college which is $95 per credit hour.”
That’s a lot less than what they would pay once they came to the university, he said. “So jumpstart will really help students who are in the technical college who know they want to go on to get an associates or bachelor's degree.”
The second program is called tech transfer, Mortensen said. “That is for students who have completed their certificate at one of our technical colleges to transfer up to 21 general education elective credits toward their associates or bachelor’s degree at Weber State.”
Again that is a huge cost savings for those students, he said. “They don’t have to pay to take those credits and elective courses over again. It also is a huge time savings as far as them being able to be quicker at progressing through their degree.”
Mortensen said between the direct admissions program, jumpstart and tech transfer, this will do tremendous things in the region. “We are being a model for the state and country that’s streamlining and improving higher education access.”
Data shows that over the next five to 10 years, there will be a big increase in the number of jobs in the workforce that require some type of post secondary certificate or degree, he said. “We know that we have to entice more of our population to come to college and get a degree in order to meet the workforce needs that we have in the state. We also know that there is no better pathway for people to improve their economic ability than through education.” l
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EDITOR
Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com
EDUCATION EDITOR
Verlene Johnson | verlene.j@themorgannews.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com
CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022
Dionne Halverson | dionne.h@thecityjournals.com THE MORGAN COUNTY NEWS 209 North State Street (Golden West Credit Union Building ), Ste. B, Morgan, UT 84050 PO
X
Ogden High School senior Grace Malan shakes hands with Waldo the Wildcat, Weber State University’s mascot at a kickoff celebration for the direct admissions program. Malan has already been accepted to WSU and has also received a scholarship to the school.
Photo by Becky Ginos
Bands come together to make beautiful music
Fall choir concert
Beginning band plays Rock Around the Clock . The Jazz Band plays Frankenstein.
Middle School Drum Line plays the buckets.
Percussive ensemble plays Seven Little Dreams.
Symphonic Band plays Phantom of the Opera. Courtesy photos
Morgan High Orchestra performs “Exhilaration” ”The Code” “Viva La Vida.” “Andalusian Adventure.” “Burst!” and “A Matter of Time” under the direction of Rudy Cordeiro.
Morgan High School Foundation choir performs “Listen to the Music,” “Wind Beneath my Wings,” and “Homeward Bound.”
Morgan Middle School Choir performs “Kyrie,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Happy.”
Morgan Middle School Choir performs “Cold and Fugue.”
Ovation performs “Lord of the Small,” “More I Cannot Wish,” and “Skyfall.” They also combined with Foundations at the end to sing, “The Water is Wilde.” Photos by Averyella Johnson
Hinds
Country Store celebrates October with an entire month of fall themed fun. This year, they had a handful of festivities in store for residents of Morgan County. They held their fourth pumpkin drop, their sixth year of Haunted Hinds, and an anniversary for their seventh year of business.
On Oct. 12, Hinds did their pumpkin drop, a community favorite. During the pumpkin drop people can guess how far the pumpkin will splat for a chance to win $50. This year’s winner was Aaron McKay, who guessed 114”5’. The farthest piece went 119”3’. Starting at 10 a.m., free donuts and
Hinds Harvest Days
By Ethan Hoffmann| e.hoffmann@themorgannews.com
hot chocolate were available to the public. They also held their annual Hinds Harvest days, Throwback Friday and Seven Year Saturday, with two full days of freebies, food, and raffle prizes. On Oct. 25, they celebrated their customers with corn dogs that were available in-store for the price of $1, and free homemade root beer floats. On Oct. 26, Hinds celebrated seven years in the community with a free “milk can” dinner for customers beginning at 4 p.m. until closing, as well as free homemade cookies and milk. On both days, drawings and raffles were open to the public to win cash and prizes.
These prizes included free gas for a year, a family movie night that included a smart TV, free fountain drinks for a year, and so much more.
Hinds wrapped up an action-packed October with their annual Haunted Hinds on Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. Trick-or-treaters that visited the store were sent on a hunt for various ingredients that would help their resident witch conjure up her famous “Witches’ Brew” in trade for a special treat.
Hinds’ next big event will be the annual Turkey Shoot on Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. The Turkey Shoot is a .22 rifle/handgun shoot
that takes place in the field behind the store. Residents are welcome to come shoot for a chance to win a frozen turkey. All ages are invited to this activity, as they have a kids’ division and an adult division. In addition, this December Hinds will be announcing when Santa will stop by to visit with the kids and take photos in front of the store by their community tree. Follow along for more updates on their social media pages @hindscountrystore. l
The pumpkin drop.
Aaron McKay, the winner of the pumpkin drop, with his cash prize.
The Peterson family enjoys free doughnuts and cocoa at the pumpkin drop.
Gabe Allen, winner of the free soda for a year. Alyssa Patterson, winner of the free dole whip and machine.
Ethan, winner of the family movie night and TV. Courtesy photos
SPORTS
The Trojans all-time leading scorer said she has one more goal in mind: a state championship
By Brian Shaw | shawproducer@gmail.com
WhenMallory Swanson is near the opponent’s goal, she’s a force to be reckoned with on the soccer pitch.
It just so happens the Denver native is Morgan striker Lacie Poll’s favorite player.
“I’ve been asked this question a lot and have never really had an answer but in thinking about it for so long, I would have to say either [Inter Miami’s Leo] Messi or Mallory Swanson because they are both forwards and fast,” said Poll. “And, with both being really good at reading the field and good on the ball, playing the 9, 7, and 11 [positions] that’s something I have to do and be good at and [have to] train to keep up with.”
Keeping up with Poll, who has scored a whopping 92 goals on the Trojans varsity as of Oct. 22, 2024, has been a chore for any defense.
In 2021, the last time Morgan won a 3A state title, Poll bagged 21 goals – as a freshman. In 2022, she battled through some adversity yet still had nine. But, in 2023, Poll not only broke her own goal-scoring record, she eclipsed it, scoring 28 goals. And, in 2024, she’s one-upped that with 34 so far.
There are definitely some similarities to Swanson. Poll’s explosiveness off the ball probably nets her some of the goals she’s scored in a Trojans girls soccer uniform.
The other half probably come from all the hard work Poll puts in, in and around the opponent’s goalmouth.
That work rate, along with a natural knack for find-
ing goals, has earned Poll plenty of interest from Division I NCAA colleges. At the moment, the senior has verbally committed to Idaho State University, said Lacie’s mom, Michelle Poll.
“Lacie started playing soccer in the fall of 2013,” said Michelle. “She was five, almost six years old.”
From that point on, said her mom, Lacie’s loved playing the game. Admittedly, Lacie said that the goals she’s scored have become a bit of a blur.
“I don’t remember when my first hat trick was, sorry,” said Lacie, who is focused on one goal and one goal only – another state championship.
It’s important to know that for all the goals she’s scored, Lacie has also been a solid teammate, assisting on at least half of the goals for Morgan.
By the time you read this, the Trojans will in fact be in the 3A semifinals and will hopefully have advanced to the 3A championship game.
“My thoughts going into these next rounds is I am very confident. The team has been working so hard for these upcoming games and we have been pushing each other to get better every game and practice,” said Lacie, whose hat-trick of three goals helped lead her team to a 5-0 victory against Carbon at the 3A quarterfinals. “I’m very excited and proud of the team, and how far we’ve come and excited to see what we can do.” l
Morgan volleyball captures 4th place at state
By Liisa London Mecham | holaprivet@yahoo.com
The Morgan High volleyball team captured fourth place at the 3A State Championships in Orem Nov. 1-2. The team opened with a sweeping 3-0 victory over Manti, advancing confidently to the quarterfinals for an intense five game rematch of last year’s state final game with Emery. The Trojans prevailed 3-2, securing a spot in the semifinals against top-seeded Canyon View. Despite a hard-fought effort, Morgan fell to the Falcons 3-0 and entered the 3rd/4th place match where they faced the No. 2 seed, North Sanpete. Morgan battled it out in a close 2-1 match to the Hawks, ultimately finishing in fourth place.
The Trojans set the tone early in their opening round match Friday afternoon, quickly dispatching the No. 14 Templars with scores of 25-17, 25-9, 25-9.
Later in the evening, the No. 4 Trojans faced off against the fifth-seeded Spartans in a rematch of the 2023 state finals. The two teams did not disappoint their fans. Morgan started strong with a 25-22 win the first game before Emery came back to even it up with a 25-22 victory of their own.
With the teams tied at 1-1, the third game became a tense, back-and-forth battle. Morgan was up 24-23 with game point when Emery rallied and tied the game at 24-24. As the teams tied at 25-25, 26-26 and then 27-27, spectators began to question the scoring cap for state games. Ultimately, the Spartans took Game 3 29-27.
Continued page 8
Morgan High volleyball team captured fourth place at the 3A State Championships Nov. 1-2. In the quarterfinals they avenged their 2023 finals loss to Emery with a 3-2 hardfought victory. Photo courtesy of Studio One Images
Lacie Poll during her official visit to Idaho State University. The Morgan High senior is currently verbally committed to ISU. Photo courtesy of Michelle Poll
XC Season Wraps Up for Trojans
By Liisa London Mecham | holaprivet@yahoo.com
The Morgan High School cross-country teams competed at the 3A State Cross Country Championships at Sugar House Park on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. The boys team arrived fresh off a Region 13 Title and with senior EJ Lee as the top Region 13 runner. They aimed to contend for a state title in a highly competitive field, while the girls team sought to improve on their 11th-place finish from 2023.
Despite a day that began with snow and ended in sun, the cold, wet conditions persisted throughout. For the boys team, the race didn’t unfold as planned, and they finished fifth overall, mirroring last year’s result. Canyon View, Grantsville, Ogden, and Carbon placed ahead of them.
The girls team achieved an impressive improvement, climbing to eighth place in 2024. Each returning runner who competed at state in 2023 significantly bettered their time. Carbon claimed the team title, overcoming Emery, Richfield, Union, and Canyon View.
Sophomore Alexis Cox led the girls with a 13th-place finish (20:22.82), nearly a minute faster than her 2023 time and advancing from her 23rd-place finish last year.
Sophomore Brooklyn Guymon, competing in her first state championship, scored second for Morgan, finishing 24th in 21:26.78. Senior Brooke Williford followed closely, placing 25th in 21:33.81. Williford’s performance reflected a notable improvement – she dropped almost two minutes from her 2023 time, advancing from 58th place.
Senior Brooklyn Hill, also made improvements, reducing her 2023 time by about two minutes and finishing 31st with a time of 21:51.35, up from 63rd last year.
Continued from page 7
Opening game 4 down 1-2 sets, Morgan took control and earned the 25-19 victory before a close fifth set commenced. The Trojans led 13-10 before Emery responded to bring it within two at 14-12 when Morgan finished the game with a strong kill. It was on to the semifinals.
In the semifinals Morgan knew they had a tall order to topple the Falcons who entered with a perfect 14-0 region record and 28-2 overall record, losing only to 6A Syracuse and Copper Hills. The Trojans struggled in
Freshman Ingrid Campbell rounded out the top five, finishing the course in 22:46.38 to place 57th.
Juniors Joesi Kelly (23:19.56) and Reese Richardson (23:25.77) ran sixth and seventh for Morgan. Richardson’s performance was especially remarkable; she shaved over two minutes off her previous year’s time and improved her placement by 15 spots.
For the boys team, each runner bettered both their times and placements from 2023, helping them secure fifth place overall. Senior EJ Lee led the way, finishing fifth individually with a time of 16:16.23. He improved from his 8th-place finish last year, trimming almost 20 seconds from his 2023 time. Summit Academy’s Kade McGovern (15:35.51), Ogden’s Bradley Ekstrom (15:48.02), and Canyon View’s Thomas Daniels and Logan Hadley finished ahead of him.
Senior Maverick Guymon, the second scorer for the Trojans, placed 13th with a time of 16:44.53, a 23-second improvement that boosted him from 21st place last year. Junior Henry Rose, the third scorer, finished in 17:24.81, eight seconds faster than his 2023 time.
Senior Esplan McClellan had a standout race, nearly a minute faster than last year. He placed 42nd with a time of 17:37.51, climbing from his 75th-place finish in 2023. Junior Jonas Archibald, the fifth scorer, finished in 17:39.41, shaving nearly 10 seconds off his 2023 time.
Juniors Enoch Johnson (17:45.53) and sophomore Caleb Lewis (18:30.30) rounded out the team’s performance at state, contributing to a memorable season for the Trojans. l
Halloween at Morgan High
By Bryson Hone | b.hone@themorgannews.com
It’sthat spooky time of the year again where goblins, ghouls and goodies make their way to the lives of many as we celebrate the Halloween holiday.
Morgan offers a unique Halloween experience that highlights the town’s sense of community and love for all things fun and frightful. Halloween is highly celebrated at Morgan High with many different activities.
One such activity was watching the highly anticipated feature film, Bouncing Betty. Each year, Morgan High School’s Student Body Officers put on a production of a Morgan High School ghost named Bouncing Betty.
5, 2024.
After the movie, the teachers’ Halloween costume contest began. Each teacher who was wearing a costume lined up. They introduced themselves and their costumes.
There were many different costumes, ranging from a witch, a toilet and Maui from Moana. Then the students voted on what their favorite costume was.
Mr. Garza, a long time math teacher, won the costume contest with his John Cena costume.
their opening game before falling 17-25. In the second set, Morgan played strongly before Canyon View rallied to win the game 25-22. The third contest also went to the Falcons 25-11.
In the 3rd/4th game, Morgan took on the North Sanpete Hawks, the No. 2 seed entering the tournament, who fell to No. 6 Richfield in the semifinals. North Sanpete narrowly claimed the first game 25-23, but Morgan came back to earn a 25-20 victory in the second set. The Hawks won Game 3 2521 in the abbreviated set in the tournament for non-championship games. l
Bouncing Betty is the ghost that haunts the halls of Morgan High School. She is a little girl who dresses all in white with dark black hair. Her tale has been told year after year; this year was different however.
Patrick Williams (PJ), the director of the movie, had seen the production of Bouncing Betty as a freshman. He knew right then and there that he was going to direct one.
The show has gained a reputation for blending suspense, humor and a bit of eerie charm. This formula proved to be a crowd pleasing delight for those at Morgan High.
All previous renditions of the movie were about 20 minutes long. PJ took a different approach by creating a 55 minute long masterpiece. PJ, along with the SBOs, put in countless hours of dedication for months before the assembly making sure that each angle, scene and line were perfect.
Finally, on the Oct. 31, the movie was shown for the entire school during the Halloween school assembly. The crowd loved it. The film received a standing ovation lasting five minutes when the credits rolled. The movie is now opening to the public on Nov.
For the teenagers of Morgan, the Halloween High School Dance is the highlight of the season. Held at Morgan High School, this annual event allows students to dress up in their most creative costumes, enjoy some spooky music and dance the night away.
This girls-ask dance is a great way for the high schoolers to get into the Halloween spirit. The creepy decorations filled the room, kids laughed at the clever costumes and everybody had a blast.
“The Halloween dance was super fun, and I really enjoyed it,” said Marcus Wilde, a student at MHS.
The school commons area is transformed into a haunted dance hall, with eerie decorations, black lights and fog machines setting the scene for an unforgettable night. The event is a great way to foster school spirit and give teens a memorable Halloween experience they’ll look forward to every year.
Halloween in Morgan, Utah is more than just a holiday – it’s a celebration of community, creativity and fun. The town’s close-knit atmosphere makes it the perfect place to experience the magic of Halloween. l
Celebrating school and fun: MES deems fall festival a success
There are not many reason elementary students want to be at the school in the evening; however, a fall carnival would be a good reason.
The Morgan Elementary School’s PTO, who sponsored the carnival said it was a “big success.”
The money raised from carnival style
games and food sales will be used for field trips, recorders and to fix and replace play ground equipment, with hopes for an ADA swing for the younger kids.
The PTO would like to thank everyone who participated in the fall festival to help make it a success. l
MMS library transformed into Harry Potter world
During the month of October, Morgan Middle School Library was transformed into Harry Potter this year. With decorations, motivational quotes and a magical atmosphere, the school was ready to host games like Dobey Corn Hole Sock Toss, Pin the Glasses on Harry Potter and other fun activities.
“The best part, because it gets us in books, is our contest,” said Assistant Principal Adam Christensen. The contest was
between witches (girls), wizards (boys) and muggles (staff). For every 100 pages read in a book by JK Rowling, or a book in the horror, scary or mystery genres, names went into the appropriate cauldron. On Oct. 30 the school celebrated the winning group by giving them doughnuts. It was a great opportunity to expose students to some of the adventures and fun that can be found in books while increasing their literacy and a love of reading. l
Children of all ages enjoy playing Plinko for a chance to win a prize.
Students enjoy being able to take home a real goldfish.
What would a carnival be without face painting? One girl tries to win a prize by popping balloons. Courtesy photos
Principal Michelle Morrell and Assistant Principal Adam Christensen.
Students play pin the lighting bolt on Harry Potter at lunch.
Two girls get into the spirit in the world of Harry Potter.
Cauldrons to keep track of the reading contest. Photos courtesy of Morgan Middle School
HS Theatre closes out ‘Into the Woods’
By Verlene Johnson | verlene.j@themorgannews.com
Once upon a time, the Morgan High School Theatre Department invited audiences to go into the woods on a fairy tale adventure.
“Into the Woods” had a successful run from Oct. 28 through Nov. 4.
While “Into the Woods” is known for being dark in the second act, director Jennifer Fritz, focused on the morals of the story. Some of the lessons to be learned from this Stephen Sondhiem musical are: Nice is different than good; children are influenced by their parents; wishes can grow and change; charming and sincere are not the same; getting what you want may come with a price and while no one is alone, not everyone is on your side. The talent that ranged from new freshman to seasoned seniors not only entertained the audience but were able to express these morals every time they took the stage.
Fritz creatively expanded the cast by including various fairy tale characters to create an ensemble. From Goldilocks and the Three Bears to the Three Little Pigs and Hansel and Gretel, with an appearance made by the 12 dwarfs, she seamlessly integrated these familiar figures into the story.
No show would be successful without
a strong technical team. Under the direction of MHS’s drama teacher, Jennifer Fritz, and with the musical guidance of Rudy Cordeiro, MHS’s choir director, the show was set up for success. Included in the tech crew were Lighting Designer, Dustin Smith; Stage Manager, Mckell Phillips; Sound board, Jordan Robinson; Light board operator, Mason Hoffmann; Production Track Operator, Brooklyn Guyman; and Spotlight operator Brookly Long and Sariah Johanson.
Sets were designed by Aaron Fritz and Kayla Rich with Fritz’s stage tech class helping with design and building the sets. Isabella Pincock brought the production to life with her outstanding work as Costume Designer, adding the final touches to dress the stage.
After a short rest, auditions for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will start later this month. Fourth grade students from Morgan Elementary School and students from Morgan Middle School are invited to audition for the children’s chorus. They will be held Nov. 19 in the MHS Theatre Room.
For any questions contact Kayli Sorensen at 801-845-8238. l
The cast cowers before the Giant.
Cinderella played by Clara Stone with Prince Charming, Cooper Nichols. Photos by Lisa Hone
Repunzel played by Katelyn Farnsworth with her Prince played by Jaqsyn Rudd.
The Witch, played by Aly Spagnulolo with her daughter Repunzel played by Katelyn Farnsworth.
Jack played by McEdge Dorius with his best friend Milky White played by Hailey Holding and Sopia Trageser.. Photos by Lisa Hone
Baker’s Wife played by Emma Wright, the Witch, played by Aly Spagnulolo and the Baker played by Liam Johnston learn how to break the spell.
Morgan High seniors pass their light on to kindergartners from MES and MGES
By Verlene Johnson | verlene.j@themorgannews.com
In what Morgan High School SBOs, hopes becomes a new tradition for seniors to pass their light onto the future of MHS, the senior class of 2025 walked from one end of the field while kindergartners from Mountain Green Middle School and Morgan Middle School, class of 2034, walked from the other end of the field. When they met in the middle the seniors gave their light to a kindergartner. The exchanging of light celebrates the journey of learning and growth in the community.
Seniors, taking their final steps through high school, walked hand in hand with kindergartners who are just starting their journey. It was a moment of reflection, inspiration and unity. l
MHS seniors pose with MES and MGES Kindergartners after the light exchange along with Troy the Trojan.
Sister Navy (senior SBO) and Caroline Woolsey (kindergartner) were excited to participate in the light exchange.
MES kindergartner Charlotte Carter with Troy the Trojan.
MGES kindergartners lined up ready to meet the seniors at the 50 yard line.
Lyla Richins and DeJay Mulleneax kindergartners from MES. Courtesy photos
HopeSquad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention group. MGMS’s Hope Squad members are nominated by their classmates as people they can trust. The members are then trained at school by teacher John Hamilton and school counselor Sunny Berkholder. The program is intended to reduce suicide by educating and training the Hope Squad members.
“We have a wonderful group of students this year,” said Berkholder. “Students are not counselors but are trained in suicide prevention techniques like QPR. They learn to listen well, ask good questions, and refer to a trusted adult. HOPE Squad students’ goal is to help foster human connection, community, and hope.”
They have to be able to take on the responsibility of being there for other students and providing hope. In addition to providing hope, they also want to support making the school a safe environment, supporting antibullying, and encouraging mental wellness.
Eighth-grade Squad members are:
Geta Sill. Her favorite subject is history. She used to live in New Zealand. Something about her, she has broken three bones. She thinks HOPE Squad is a group of people that makes her feel better.
Eve Sandoval. Her favorite subject is PE. Two things people don’t know about her are she plays tackle football in fifth grade and she likes playing guitar. She wants to be on HOPE Squad so she can go on the field trips.
Kiyah Burton. Her favorite subject is PE. Two things people may not know about me are I used to be super short and I repeated the fourth grade. She wants to be in HOPE Squad to help those in need.
Lizzie L. Bell. Her favorite subject is history, or really anything. She likes to go canyoneering and dirt biking with her family. “I love being in HOPE Squad, and helping people.”
Briger Garrett. His favorite subject is Peer Tutor.Two things that people probably
Meet MGMS’ HOPE Squad
By Bronson Farrin, Kaius Love and Ephraim Kinsey – fifth graders at MGMS
don’t know about him is that he used to live in Washington and also did wrestling for seven years. The reason why he is in the HOPE Squad is because he wants to spread positivity and courage.
Cole Tripp. His favorite subject is math. Two things that people do not know about him is that he ran cross country and likes to play board games. He chose to be in the HOPE Squad because he likes to help people.
Taya Manning says she loves to run around so she loves P:E and she plays two sports and loves to design stuff. She wants to be in HOPE Squad so she can help her fellow peers.
Monea Whimpey. Her favorite subject is P.E. She was born in Las Vegas Nevada, and she is a ginger. She is in the HOPE Squad because she loves to help out whenever she can.
Taya Snow. Her favorite subject is math. She plays volleyball for a club team in Farmington. She plays golf tournaments in Utah. She joined the HOPE Squad because she likes making sure others are OK.
Aaron Edwards. His favorite subject is woodworking where he likes working with the lathe. Two things people probably don’t know is he plays violin and likes mountain biking.
Franki Wright. Her favorite subject is art. Two things people might not know about her are she has played the violin for three years and she has tumbled competitively for eight years. “I want to be a member of HOPE Squad because I love helping and learning and I love being part of the HOPE Squad.”
Jonni Wright loves to do math and loves to ride horses. She is a twin. “I want to be a member of the HOPE Squad because of all the fun opportunities we get to have and help around the school.”
Seventh grade squad members
Kallie Wangsgard. Her favorite subject is science. She loves to surf and ski. She joined the HOPE Squad because she was excited to
do the fun activities.
Stockton Adams. His favorite subject is Musical Theater. Things that people don't know about is he plays piano and he loves to sing and dance. He wants to be in the HOPE Squad because he loves to help others to feel good.
Juno Kinney. Her favorite subject is history and English. She loves to act and perform. She also plays volleyball and tennis. She wants to be in HOPE Squad because she wants to help people and wants students to know that they are wanted and loved. She also loves the planning and talking to new people.
Stockton Adams. His favorite subject is Music Theater. Two things about Stockton are he plays the piano and he loves hanging out with friends. He wants to be helpful because helping others makes them and him feel joyful.
Addison Rickard. Her favorite subject is history. Two things that people probably do not know is that she played travel softball and she likes to tumble. She wanted to be in HOPE Squad because she wanted to help
even if they are feeling down.
Jagger Smith. His favorite subject is social studies. Two things that people do not know about him is he plays baseball and loves to hang out with his family. He wanted to be in the HOPE Squad to help others mental health or anything else they need help with.
Krew Beckstrom. His favorite subject is health. He has never left the United States of America and he plays football. He is in the HOPE Squad because he wants to do fun activities.
Greyson Belliston. His favorite subject is heath. He likes to go boating, skiing, and sports. He is in the HOPE Squad because of the activities and assemblies.
Lincoln Wilding. His favorite subject is music. He plays the guitar and he plays golf. He wants to be in the HOPE Squad because he wants to prevent suicide.
Blake Adams. His favorite subject is math and Hope Squad. He likes to play guitar. He wants to be in the HOPE Squad because he wants to be able to lift people's spirits. l
Return senior missionary shares his experiences at SUP luncheon
On Monday Oct. 21, the Morgan Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers gathered its members for the October monthly luncheon. Meeting at the Rock Chapel, the pioneer minute was presented by chapter member Richard Wiscombe. He told of his early years growing up, serving a mission and his career in aviation both with the military and commercial flying. After a delicious lunch from Larry’s Spring Chicken, the featured speaker was Ernie Durrant. He and his wife Lesli are both graduates of Morgan High and long-term residents of the community. Ernie served a full-time mission in the London South Mission. He
and his wife have served in multiple callings in the Church including several years in the YSA Ward here in Morgan. Ernie also served as a Bishop in the Morgan Stake. In November of 2022 Ernie retired, sold his home and with his wife Lesli, headed to the Provo MTC, accepting a call to the Florida Jacksonville Mission, Deseret Cattle and Timber Ranch. They served with three other missionary couples building housing units and barns for the cowboys and families who worked on the ranch and water projects for the cattle units. Sister Durrant worked on landscaping, served in the local community, nursing homes, orphanage, food pantry and
recording data from small cemeteries located on the Church farm properties. They had a wonderful experience and would have returned again this winter to do the same but that particular mission calling is no longer available. Their talents and strengths fit so well the needs of that particular mission assignment and they were able to bless the lives of many including their own. Thank you Ernie for sharing your experiences and feelings with the Chapter members. l Featured speaker Ernie Durrant talks about his service with his wife in the Florida Jacksonville Mission, Deseret Cattle and Timber Ranch. Courtesy photo
The HOPE Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention group. Courtesy photo
Meet MGMS Student Council
By Brielle Bess, Adri Fransen, and Mack Balser – fifth graders at MGMS
Student Council at MGMS plans Spirit Week that took place in September, Make a Difference week in December, and Random Act of Kindness week in the spring and helps plan and carry out assemblies. This year the student council has also created a school news broadcast that shares happenings from around the school each week.
They plan activities for each week and listen to the student body to advocate for their needs and wants. Student Council also runs The Den, which is the school store.
“This year’s student council group is highly motivated and eager to support the student body at MGMS,” said Advisor Jennie Durrant. “They are great leaders and work hard to make MGMS a great place to be. I am excited to be the advisor to such a great group of students.”
This year’s seventh grade members are:
Maddie Crosby. Her favorite subject is history.Two things about Maddie are she is very short and she loves to build Lego flowers. She wants to be part of the school and help with activities.
Jane Cantwell. Her favorite subject is student council. She likes to dance and run track. She wants to be in student council because it’s fun.
Drew Wilding. His favorite thing about school is lunch. He likes to ski. He wants to be in student council to make school fun.
Konley Weeks. Her favorite subject is social studies. She likes to dance and enjoys going to the beach. She wants to be in student council because it's fun to help the school.
Parker Taylor. His favorite subject is health. He likes to play soccer and surf. He is in student council to make school fun.
Max Johnson. His favorite subject is tech and engineering. He likes Legos and the Utah State Aggies. The reason he is in student council is to have a positive impact on this school.
Ethan Linford. His favorite subject is history. Two things that most people don’t know about him are that he has origins in Asia and Europe. He has also been to Canada. The reason why he wants to be a part of the student council is because he thinks it will be a fun experience.
Millie Wallin. Her favorite subject is science or student council. Two things that people probably don’t know about her are that she likes to dance and mountain bike. She wants to be a part of the student council because she likes helping the school and it’s fun.
Carver Mellot. His favorite subject is P.E\lunch. He likes the Utes. Carver wants to be a student council member because he wants to make school more fun.
Carder Lewis. His favorite subject is math. He likes to play the piano and root for the Aggies. He wants to be on the student
council to make the school a better place.
Cooper Olson. His favorite subject is art. He is from an Air Force family so he travels a lot, and he likes to golf.
Harper Tyrell. Her favorite subject is student council|/Pack time. She does comp dance and she likes to act. She also likes to plan fun things.
Eighth grade student council members are:
Leila Orton, Her favorite subject is student council. She loves tumbling. She wants to be in student council to make the school a better place.
Brady Anderson. His favorite thing about school is lunch. He wants you to know that he doesn't have a pot of gold. He’s in student council to help others.
Rocky Mansfield. His favorite subject is science. He has a hamster named Coconut. He likes the movie “Tangled.” He’s in student council to help others.
Melia Rollin. Her favorite subject is music and math. Her first time in mainland USA she made clay earrings. She wants to be in student council to change the school for good and make it a safe place for everyone.
Spencer Mills. His favorite subject in school is percussion. Two things that most
MEET MGMS’s new SRO
By
Deputypeople don’t know about him are that he owns a Glockenspiel and he doesn’t eat lunch at school. He wants to be a part of the student council because he wants to help the school and help fifth and sixth graders to fit in.
Tess Larsen. Her favorite subject in school is student council. Some things that most people don’t know about her are she loves playing tennis, playing the guitar, and she loves to mountain bike with her sister. The reason why she wants to be a part of the student council is because she likes to plan fun activities.
Reagan Pabst. Her favorite subjects in school are student council and her music classes. Two things that most people probably don’t know about her are that she is the oldest in her family and the second thing is she loves music acting. She wants to be a part of the student council because she loves the school and she loves to be able to do fun things for the school.
Hadley Weeks. Her favorite subject is P.E. She has a dog and likes to crochet and do nails. l
MGMS
Jamie Boots was born in Moscow, Idaho and grew up in Riverdale, Utah. Boots graduated from Bonneville High School in Washington Terrace. After high school, He went to trade school where he obtained EMT certifications and a pilot license before beginning a career in law enforcement. Boots began his law enforcement career as a patrolman. He said he was fortunate enough to be selected to attend SWAT training. He was then assigned to the Detective Division. He was eventually promoted to sergeant. Boots was given an opportunity to work as an agent with the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force. He was then assigned to the Department Bureau with the Riverdale City Police Department. Boots retired from the Riverdale Police Department last year. After a short time in retirement, Sheriff Stark of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, offered Boots the opportunity to come and serve the citizens of Morgan County.
The leadership Morgan County’s Sheriff provides, brought Boots to Morgan. “After retiring I knew I wanted to continue and further a career in law enforcement,” said Boots. “I was wanting to serve the citizens of Morgan County that brought me to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.”
Boots is ecstatic to be the Student Resource Officer for Mountain Green Middle School for the 2024/25 school year. He is extremely grateful that Sheriff Stark granted him the opportunity and selected him for the MGMS SRO. He is finding that the best part of his new role is interacting with students every day. The position of SRO allows him to focus on the safety of the Students of MGMS daily.
“My off-duty time consists of traveling and racing motocross or desert racing UTVs with my son. If we’re racing, the family is riding and working our horses,” said Deputy Boots. “Hopefully, there’s enough time left in a day and if I’m lucky enough I will sneak away from chores and go for a Harley ride.” l
Tessa Erickson and Lily Helsten – fifth grade students at
The student council plans activities each week and also runs the school store. Courtesy photo
Fallis in the air, and things are really starting to fall into place around the district. Here are your highlights from this month’s school board meeting as well as Safety Protocols and bonus content for parents of 12th graders.
The board first heard from County Administrative Manager Kate Becker, who reported that the new Lee’s in Mountain Green is a success; so much so that pedestrians crossing from the middle school to the market have become a concern. That section of the highway is currently a “no pedestrian crossing” zone. The county is considering options to address the issue, including reducing the speed limit and/or creating a high visibility crosswalk at the intersection, but pedestrians need to be aware of the risks and prioritize safety.
Next, CTE Director Robert Kilmer announced that construction on the new shop begins this month. The new facility will be connected to the existing building on the northeast end and include better safety conditions, updated equipment to prepare students for current industry practices, and a real classroom. This phase of the project should wrap up in March 2025, and demolition of the old shop will take place over the summer break.
The board approved the revised Parent Complaints Policy, which outlines the protocols for formal complaints and the district response. Details can be found on the district website under School Board → Policies →Community/Family and via this link: https://irp.cdn-website.com/7cf15fcf/ files/uploaded/parent_complaints.pdf
In the Board Member Reports, student member Halle Titus promoted the Kindness Wall being implemented at the high school, where students can post kind and encouraging messages; the wall has been sponsored by WSU for two years.
She also reminded everyone that the Veterans Day breakfast will be held at the high school on Nov. 8. Please watch for an announcement from the high school. All veterans are welcome to attend.
October school board meeting
By Gwen Romero-Public Information Officer
Member Mandy Wallace gave a shout out to Hogan Construction, who, looking to donate to the Education Foundation, is now donating a website. If you are interested in donating to the Foundation in general or for a special program or scholarship, please contact Mandy at mandy.wallace@morgansd. org. We’ll also post the link for the new website as soon as it’s available.
Safety protocols. Earlier this month, some of you may have heard about an email hoax posing as a threat to Utah schools. As in the past, the Statewide Information and Analysis Center was already aware that an online group known to target schools and emergency services just to cause disruptions might be planning something for the first week of October. The State verified that this was a hoax, but we took the opportunity to run a drill with law enforcement at our schools as part of our safety protocols. All buildings were cleared, and we continued with a regular school day. Because we run similar emergency preparedness drills regularly with different support teams, and as law enforcement are now a regular part of our campus routine, and as students were not involved, we decided not to cause unnecessary disruptions and unease by advertising the hoax or the drill.
In the event of a potential threat, we would notify you.
We would appreciate your help in a few areas. Please talk with your children about our safety protocols (https://iloveuguys.org/ The-Standard-Response-Protocol.html) and the importance of following teacher directions in case of emergency. Please reassure them of the unlikely possibility that we will have such an emergency, but know that we do have plans and protocols in place. Also, our resource officers and other deputies are on campus regularly so that students can be familiar with them; please assure your children that these officers are here to help us and to keep us safe.
Please help us further by making sure that your contact information is updated in PowerSchool (both parents), day- and evening-phone numbers and email address(es),
and that you are listed as contact #1 and #2 in your student’s Emergency Contacts.
As always, we prioritize our students’ and staff members’ safety and will continue to refine our safety procedures to best serve our school community while ensuring that everyone can feel and be safe on our campuses.
For all parents looking for resources to help you and your child navigate the public school system, please visit the Parent Portal at schools.utah.gov/parent.
For parents of 12th grade students (and future high school seniors), we are happy to inform you that Weber State University, Davis Technical College, and Ogden-Weber Technical College offer direct admission to graduates of Morgan County School District schools.
To facilitate the direct admission process, Morgan County School District provides certain student data (directory information) to these institutions through a data
sharing agreement that conforms with Utah student privacy laws (Utah Code 53E-9-101 et. seq.) and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Additionally, with consent from a student’s legal guardian, Morgan County School District provides additional data (academic information), which is used by the institutions to determine initial course placement and scholarship eligibility. All data sharing and security procedures meet the standards required by law as well as current data privacy/security practices for Utah school districts, colleges, and universities. None of the student-identifiable data may be shared with any other party or used for any purpose other than for direct-admission and scholarship designations and communications.
The Board meets again on Nov. 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. l
Morgan High turns pink for Sherie Wright Pink Night
Sherie Wright Pink Night, organized annually by the Morgan High School Volleyball Team during their match against Ben Lomond High School, took place on Thursday, Oct. 3. Every year, this event brings together the community to raise thousands of dollars which is donated to Huntsman Cancer Research.
Money is raised through a treat table, silent auction, and a quilt auction. This year one of the quilts sold for $1,000 with three others selling for hundreds more.
Kathy Howa and Julie Preece were recognized for their courageous battle with cancer. All cancer survivors in the crowd were recognized for their courage with a round of applause after which a moment of silence honored those who lost their battle with cancer.
Sherie Wright lost her battle with cancer on March 10, 2012. Sherie was an educator with a great love for Volleyball. She could be found in the gym at any given practice and never missed a game. She is always remembered. l
By Verlene Johnson | verlene.j@themorgannews.com
MHS Volleyball Coach Liz Wiscombe thanks everyone for their generosity, stating they could not do it without everyone’s help.
Kathy Howa is honored at Pink Night.
OVATION sings the National Anthem at the start of Pink Night.
Julie Preece with her family is honored at Pink Night.
Members of the Wright family were introduced at Pink Night.
This quilt had a winning bid of $1,000. The winner gets to design a quilt with their family’s handprints.
Morgan always hosts Ben Lomond during pink night. No matter what school you play for or cheer for on Pink Night, everyone is on the same team as they raise money to fight cancer.
Selling pink treats brings in a lot of money at Pink Night.
The Cheer Squad performs during the break at Pink Night.
The Cheer Squad and the Dance Team each signed a volleyball to auction off at Pink Night.
Participants in the traditional Pink Parade. Courtesy photos
Monday
The Neighborhood (2) KUTV 7 p.m.
There’s a season for living and for dying. While baby Daphne has the first one wrapped up pretty well, Marty (Marcel Spears) and Courtney (Skye Townsend) have to say goodbye to someone else. Then, Dave (Max Greenfield) seeks solitude.
Brilliant Minds
(5) KSL 9 p.m.
The new medical drama’s ongoing mystery takes a big step forward as Dr. Wolf (Zachary Quinto) and his team perform their most experimental treatment yet to help John Doe (Alex Ozerov-Meyer): using a microchip to interface with John’s brain via a computer.
Tuesday
St. Denis Medical (5) KSL 7 p.m.
If laughter is the best medicine, you can be sure the patients at Oregon’s St. Denis Medical are healing quite nicely. The series premiere of this halfhour comedy follows a unique group of medical professionals as they struggle to care for patients.
Murder in a Small Town (13) KSTU 7 p.m.
Despite moving to the to the small coastal town of Gibsons, B.C., to escape the stress of big-city police work, Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland) soon finds himself drawn back in when he’s notified of a potential threat made through a haunting text message.
Wednesday
Survivor
(2) KUTV 7 p.m.
The alliances on Fiji’s beautiful Mamanuca Islands have been forever fractured and the remaining castaways must convince their fellow contestants to work together in the last few weeks. But will a November surprise lead to $1 million in December?
Sullivan’s Crossing (30) KUCW 8 p.m.
Maggie’s (Morgan Kohan) world get rocked when she learns devastating news about her stepfather. Meanwhile, Sully (Scott Patterson) struggles with having Phoebe (Linda Boyd) back in his life. Cindy Sampson and Michelle Nolden guest star.
Thursday
Hell’s Kitchen
(13) KSTU 7 p.m.
It’s a battle of head and executive chefs on the latest season of this fiery cooking competition. Which of the chefs will impress Gordon Ramsay enough to win the head chef position of Ramsay’s restaurant in Ledyard, Conn., and the $250,000 grand prize?
Elsbeth
(2) KUTV 9 p.m.
Season 2 of this entertaining police procedural rolls on as Elsbeth (Carrie Preston), a successful lawyer from Chicago, continues to assist the NYPD and Capt. C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce) solve crimes in her own special way. Carra Patterson also stars.
Friday
S.W.A.T.
(2) KUTV 7 p.m.
As the show counts down to its landmark 150th episode, can Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Shemar Moore), leader of the LAPD’s S.W.A.T. unit, keep his loyalties in check? With lives at stake, Hondo needs to properly balance these sometimesopposed loyalties.
Shark Tank
(4) KTVX 7 p.m.
Entrepreneurial minds come front and center in hopes of earning lucrative deals from Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner and the other Sharks that could take their small businesses to new heights. But can they stomach the offers?
Saturday
50/50 Flip
A&E 9 a.m.
Krystal and Dedric Polite are known for renovating homes with less than $50,000 in 50 days. But when they decide to tackle a four-unit apartment building, creating two short-term units and two long-term units, their plans change upon meeting a veteran.
Christmas at Plumhill Manor
LIFE 6 p.m.
Margot (Maria Menounos) is a New York architect with a growing career who
Saturday
(5) KSL 9:30 p.m.
inherits an English manor unexpectedly. As she visits the estate, she is caught up in the British Christmas traditions and finds life-changing love with Alfie (Kyle Pryor).
Sunday
Holiday in Happy Hollow
LIFE 6 p.m.
Gracie (Tamara Almeida) is a real estate developer who just purchased a Christmas tree farm. But when she finds out the farm had previously raffled off one-foot plots to locals, she needs help from a local historian (CodyRay Thompson) to get them back.
NFL Football (5) KSL 6:15 p.m.
Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts head to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to take on future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. It would be great if one of these teams found their groove — but don’t hold your breath. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (4) KTVX 7 p.m.
Legendary archeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is set to retire before his goddaughter (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) reignites his interest in a dial that can change history. Before he can get it, he finds himself fighting a former Nazi
Saturday Night Live
Live from New York, it’s an all-new episode of “Saturday Night Live,” airing Saturday, Nov. 16, on NBC. A hilarious ensemble of regulars, including Chloe Fineman and Marcello Hernandez, are joined by celebrity host Charli XCX with a musical performance as they perform sketches and shorts in front of a studio audience.
Celebrity Profile
By Jay Bobbin TV Media
“Night Court” and John Larroquette are in session once again.
NBC’s revival of its 1984-1992 sitcom returns for its third season Tuesday, Nov. 19, with Larroquette continuing to reprise his role from the original show as selfassured Dan Fielding. A prosecutor initially, Fielding is now a defense attorney who regularly brings clients before Judge Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch, “The Big Bang Theory”), the daughter of the first series’ Judge Harry Stone (who was played by the late Harry Anderson, “Dave’s World”). The latest round adds previous guest star Wendie Malick (“Hot in Cleveland”) as a cast regular, playing Julianne Walters, the new district attorney — and a former criminal who was prosecuted by Fielding.
A winner of four consecutive Primetime Emmys for his first “Night Court” run, Larroquette says he consulted his fellow star Markie Post (“The Fall Guy”) on that series before agreeing to participate in the update.
“Markie and I actually had talked about this,” he confirms. “I contacted her when it was offered, and I was thinking, ‘This is not a good idea. I can’t be the physical comic that I was. I can’t jump off tables anymore.’ And she said, ‘No, you’ve got to do this. You have to find out what happened, where Dan’s life went.’ And I helped to sort of create his journey [referenced in the current show].”
While today’s “Night Court” has retained much of the spirit and sensibility of its forerunner, Larroquette acknowledges some differences that he attributes partially to time marching on, but also to the production process.
“The audience has a lot to do with the timing,” he reasons, “and it’s a different style of writing and a different kind of acting. You have to be aware of the audience, and it’s like being on a stage doing a play. You have to go for the laughs, and you can’t trample over them.”
MORGAN COUNTY EVENT CALENDAR - NOV.
Thousands of pieces candy were handed out on Halloween before the traditional door to door trick or treating began in Morgan and Mountain Green.
Morgan’s Businesses have passed out candy to the young and old for over 15 years as patrons walk from State Street to Com-
Morgan Businesses go ‘Trick or Treating’
By Verlene Johnson | verlene.j@themorgannews.com
mercial Street to Trojan Blvd. collecting the sweet confections. Hot dogs, donuts and tacos also make an appearance for various businesses.
Morgan’s Business Trick or Treat has become a favorite Halloween tradition of many in the Morgan Valley. l
Photos courtesy of Verlene Johnson
Mountain Green intersection to get crosswalk and flashing beacon
By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
After a preliminary traffic study by A-Trans Engineering, the Morgan County Commission has decided to lower traffic speeds, install a crosswalk and “enhanced traffic control” at the intersection of 5000 West and Old Highway Road near Lee’s Market in Mountain Green.
“Our opinion is that unless there is a planned enforcement or active crossing guard planned, the students will continue to cross Old Highway to access Lee’s Market,” the study said. “In order to provide a safer crossing to accommodate the current crossing pedestrians before the traffic signal is installed, a striped crosswalk on the east side of the intersection with proper signage and advanced signage is the most appropriate.”
After hearing the study results, on Oct. 29 the commission approved a project to enhance the safety of the intersection going out to bid. The improvements will include a solar-powered flashing beacon that will be activated by a button. (A rapid-flashing beacon is not warranted, the study said). The ADA ramps at the intersection will also need to be reconfigured to accommodate the new crosswalk.
Although a traffic light is eventually planned for the intersection, the timing will be based on future development in the area. The Trappers Loop intersection is located 1,100 feet to the west of this intersection and is also planned to include a future traffic signal.
“You know the kids that come out of the middle school, they’re not going to go down and hit that light,” Heiner told the commissioners that evening. “So, I would say that it would probably [be] the first light that would come in, and then eventually you’d have a light there. [It] could be five to 10 years, who knows.”
Currently along Mountain Green Middle School there are about 18 townhouses and more than 200 single family homes north of the intersection. The area is also planned for future commercial development which would increase traffic, the study said.
Morgan County is implementing a new recycling program that will offer recycling cans for all residents in 2025. Morgan City will be part of the same program.
This became necessary after Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District, of which Morgan County and Morgan City are members, enacted an ordinance that requires the member entities to implement some type of recycling program. The intent of the recycling program which is being implemented across the 15 member entities is to divert garbage from the Davis Landfill to extend its life.
“Right now, if we were diverting no waste from the landfill and putting all the waste in that landfill we’d have about eight years left in that landfill,” WIWMD executive director Nathan Rich told the county commission at a May 17 county commission work session. “We want that landfill to last a little bit longer, so we made some conscious decisions to extend the life of that landfill by about 10 years. [It] gives us some operational flexibility, and it also allows us time to plan for what the system is going to look like when that landfill is closed.”
About three to five years before the landfill reaches capacity the WIWMD will have to build a new transfer station there to transfer all future waste, he said.
After hearing the options, the county commission opted for bundled waste management services, which will offer basic
The speed will be lowered prior to com-
Based on the recommendations of the commissioners the speed will also be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph in that area from the intersection to Silver Leaf Drive, Morgan County Public Works Director Bret Heiner said at that meeting.
pletion of the project to get motorists used to the new speed, he said. “If I was to put the signs in tomorrow then let’s go down and observe it and they’re not going to slow down for a while until the sheriff slows them down or they get used to something.”
Recycling comes to Morgan County
By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
garbage disposal along with the blue and green-can recycling programs to all residents. Adding the recycling cans will add $5.25 to the cost of current garbage fees (which are $20/month).
Beginning in January, the county will order the cans which will be delivered in batches beginning about six weeks later. Four thousand cans will be delivered in early 2025. Households will be assessed the fee after all cans are delivered. The fees are expected to go into effect no later than June 30.
“We don’t want to roll out the fee before we have the carts available and in place,” Newton said at the Oct. 29 county commission meeting.
Morgan County is pursuing a grant through the waste management district to help cover the cost of the cans. These funds have already been factored into the cost of the cans.
Residents who are on a fixed income and qualify for the Homestead Credit or Circuit Breaker property tax credits may be able to qualify for a 25 percent discount on the trash and recycling costs.
Prior to the plan’s implementation, the waste management district will send educational materials to all households instructing them on what may be placed in the cans.
The Morgan City Council is expected to approve this recycling program for its residents at its next meeting on Nov. 12.
Wasatch Integrated Waste Manage-
These improvements should help make Mountain Green a more walkable community, Commissioner Blaine Fackrell said.
“That is one of the things that [we need] if we want to have people walk to the different economic development items that we have coming in,” he said. l
ment District will hold a public open house on Nov. 15, from noon to 4 p.m. at its materials recovery facility which is located west of the Davis County Landfill at 3404 North 650 East in Layton. Those who are interest-
ed in seeing what happens to their garbage will be able to tour the facility and enjoy some complimentary food. Morgan County school classes will also be invited to the open house. l
With a planned crosswalk and other improvements by Morgan County this intersection in Mountain Green should be safer for pedestrians to access Lee’s Market. Courtesy image/Morgan County
Beginning next spring, Morgan County residents will start seeing recycling cans on garbage day across the county. Courtesy image/ WIWMD
DUP Happenings
By Nell Nickerson
The Morgan County Company of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers have been busy the last few weeks. On Oct. 17 the South Morgan Camp held their monthly meeting at The Family Tree. It was enjoyed by Camp members and residents.
Oct. 25 and 26 the Company had a table of items for sale at the Treasures For U Boutique held in the auditorium at the County building. Our thanks to Chris Slate and Tamra Sargent for organizing this event. And special thanks to all who supported it.
We have also been busy making a queen-size quilt for the HomeTown Christ-
NOTICE
Morgan County School District Annual Asbestos Notice
Federal regulations require that schools be inspected for the presence of asbestos, a toxic material that has been used in the construction industry for a number of years. All Morgan County Schools have been inspected for asbestos containing materials and the results of the inspections are contained in the Asbestos Management Plan. The Asbestos Management Plan is available for your preview at the District Office, or a copy of the plan will be provided to you for the cost of reproduction.
Publishing: 11/8/2024
Morgan County School District Board of Education Public Notice
Pursuant to Utah Code 52-4-102 the Board hereby gives notice of an open meeting to be convened as outlined below. The Board may move into a closed meeting to discuss specifics as outlined in Utah Code 52-4-205.
A video/audio recording of the meeting will be available at www.morgansd.org the following day. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations during the meeting should notify the Superintendent at least two working days before the meeting.
Date: November 12, 2024
Location: District Offices, 67 North 200 East, Morgan, UT 84050
Work Meeting: 4:00 pm Finance Committee. The Board takes no action during work meetings.
Regular Meeting: 5:00 pm
I. Welcome – Board President, Gaylene Adams
II. Consent Agenda: Agenda, Minutes, Personnel, Financial Expenditures
III. Public Comment*
IV. Superintendent’s Report
a. RISE Data
b. School Safety – SRO/County Security Chief, Jamie Boots
c. Shop Update – CTE Director, Robert Kilmer
V. Business Administrator’s Report
a. External Audit Report
VI. Discussion Items
a. Board Elections
b. Board Schedule/Assignments
c. Conflicts of Interest Policy (BBD)
d. Facility Usage Agreement
e. Interlocal Recreation Agreement
f. Sex Education Materials Review Committee Member AtLarge Selection
g. Student Check-Out During School Hours Policy (FJ)
h. Travel Request(s)
VII. Action Items
a. Agreement Concerning the Morgan County Council of Governments
b. Homeschool Affidavit(s)
IX. Board Member Reports
X. Advanced Planning for Upcoming Events
a. Next Meeting December 10, 2024, 5 pm
b. Legislative Breakfast December 9, 2024, 7 am, WSU Davis Stewart Center
mas celebration on Dec. 7. Plans are to have a silent auction for this quilt. Much time has been spent making this a special item. Remember that all monies received are tax-deductible as we are a non-profit organization. Funds received are used for maintaining the building and cabin. There are no scheduled visits to the Museum and cabin until spring, but arrangements can be made for tours at any time. Phone numbers for contacts are posted on the front door of the Museum. l
c. USBA Conference January 9-11, 2025, Salt Lake City
XI. Adjournment
Gaylene Adams, Board President
*Individuals wishing to address the Board during the Public Comment portion of the meeting should contact the Superintendent at 801-829-3411 by 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to be recognized on the agenda. Those speaking must provide name, city of residence, and topic. There is a three-minute time limit. Patrons may also share comments with board members via email at www.morgansd.org.
Publishing: 11/8/2024
There was a table of items for sale at the Treasures For U Boutique held during the South Morgan Camp’s monthly meeting.
DUP members made a quilt for the HomeTown Christmas celebration on Dec. 7. Courtesy photos
