$1.50 January 19, 2024 | Vol. 3 Iss. 03
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Croydon Bridge reopens
MORGAN COUNTY NEWS
After painstaking construction, the Croydon Bridge finally reopened.
page 10
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Morgan honors senior swimmers at Senior Night By Liisa London Mecham
Icelandic volcano scorches nearby town
W
ednesday, Jan. 10, the Morgan High Swim Team swam against North Summit and honored their six senior swimmers at Senior Night. Seniors Lyle Draper, Emilie Gold, Elijah Pfeifer, Brielle Sill, Connor Smith and Stella Ward were celebrated along with their parents for their contributions and hard work on the team.
After seemingly being out of the woods after the eruption north of the town of Grindavik, Iceland, another fissure opened up much closer to the town, and was, in many residents' opinions, perhaps the worst-case scenario. Though all citizens of the town had been evacuated, many of them, along with people around the world watched with dread and sadness as the lava flow slowly reached the edge of the town, and consumed at least three buildings on the outskirts. Though the lava flow on the surface has tapered off, and many homes seem safe, the magma flow beneath the surface has not slowed, according to experts. The event has spurred countless donations and several days of prayer across the small country.
Boys’ Result
The boys’ team won the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle event. Gerrit Noorda won the 200 freestyle event, and Elijah Pfeifer won the 50 freestyle event. Levi Sill won the 100 butterfly and Connelly Breinholt won the 500 freestyle event. Breinholt clocked in at 5:57.21 on his 500 free, becoming only the 4th swimmer in MHS history to swim the 500 in under six minutes. Swimmer Daxin Witte dropped 19 seconds off his 500 free. One of the most exciting races of the day was the boys’ 200 Free Relay. The Morgan 200 Free Relay Team consisted of Kaison Berry, Axel Rollins, Gerrit Noorda, and Elijah Pfeifer. Morgan was about two body lengths behind North Summit when Noorda, the third swimmer, dove in, and narrowed the gap, drawing even as they approached the blocks. Pfeifer jumped in and swam the last lap, extending the lead and gave the Trojans the victory! North Summit finished with a 1:44.41, and Morgan finished with a 1:43.86 and the win!
SWIMMER LIZZY BESS takes a breath during her race.
Extreme cold to hit much of U.S.
Winter has been slow in coming this season but has now arrived with a vengeance. Storms continue to pound much of the nation, but that’s not all. Many news outlets have reported that this week, nearly 80% of the United States will experience colder than average temperatures, below freezing, and in some cases, below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Weather warnings have been issued across these states, encouraging people to take necessary precautions, and avoid being out in the cold for extended periods of time. Following a week of winter storm watches in the west, the east is once again bracing for winter’s impact.
Girls’ Results
Tessa Smith won the 100 butterfly, and the girls won the 400 freestyle event. In her victory in the butterfly, Tessa Smith dropped eight seconds off her 100 fly. Megan Lemon dropped a huge 23 seconds off her 200 free and eight seconds off her 100 free. Aadrie Little dropped seven seconds off her 100 free while Lizzy Bess dropped five seconds off her 100 back. Morgan swam against Ben Lomond and St. Joseph’s Tuesday, Jan. 16 and will continue to prepare for their upcoming end of season meets. l
NEWS BREAK
Denmark crowns new king
MORGAN CELEBRATED THEIR senior swimmers on Senior Night, Jan. 10. (Left to right): Brielle Sill, Elijah Pfeifer, Connor Smith, Lyle Draper, Stella Ward, and Emilie Gold.
Photos by Lyle Draper
Local legislators gear up as 45-day session begins By Becky Ginos UTAH STATE CAPITOL—With the bang of the gavel, the 2024 Legislative Session formally started on Tuesday. Before getting down to business, both the House and Senate listened to musical performances by local choirs and watched as the military color guard posted the colors. President J. Stuart Adams, R-District 7, Davis and Morgan counties and Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, R-District 12, Davis and Weber Counties gave opening remarks. “A little over 41 years ago, one of my personal heroes – President Ronald Reagan – came to Hooper, Utah,” said Adams. “I know some of you are not 41 years old, but I was there. He stood on a trailer with bales of straw and hay surrounding him. President Reagan had a vision and a will to implement the proper role of government. He concluded his remarks with these words. ‘Very simply, the policy of our administration is: This government of ours was created to be a convenience for the people, serving at the behest of the people. It was not supposed to be the master of the people.’” Adams went on to talk about four key pillars he believes will create an unshakeable foundation of success and prosperity: Energy, Education, Water and Community and Family-Friendly Culture. “Families need affordable housing, social media that is safe, adoption process that works and reasonable taxes,” he said. “We need to continue to focus on moving families out of apartments and into homes. Last year, we allocated $50 million to the firsttime homebuyer assistance program. That has changed lives! It has already helped hundreds of families purchase their first home, unlocking their American dream. And it continues to encourage builders, developers and cities to develop and build more affordable homes.”
After 52 years, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated the throne of the country, the first monarch in 900 years to do so. The title of monarch was passed to her eldest son, King Frederik X, who made his first public appearance as king just this week. Hit wife, the new Queen Consort of Denmark, Mary Donaldson, is the first Danish monarch born in Australia, the two having met at the Syndey Olympics in 2000. King Frederik X declared the motto for his reign, "United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark". King Frederick X’s reign marks the next succession in one of the oldest-running monarchies in the world, dating back to the 9th or 10th centuries.
Centuries-old city rediscovered
REP. KERA BIRKELAND, R-District 4, Morgan, Rich and Summit Counties claps as the Speaker of the House Mike Schultz gives his opening day speech. The 2024 Legislative Session started on Tuesday.
Photo by Roger V. Tuttle
Utah will continue leading the nation in protecting kids against social media, said Adams. “We will hold social media companies accountable for the harm they are inflicting upon our youth. And we will stand for our children and proudly fight the litigation.” The best way to support families is to ensure they keep as
LEGISLATOR on page 5
Archaeologists have recently mapped out an ancient civilization that was originally rediscovered only 20 years ago. The city, in a section of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, represents a huge find in the history of not only the region but the world. The civilization dates back to 500 B.C. and includes residences, ceremonial buildings, farms, and complex roads. The level of complexity mirrors archaeological sites from the Incas and Mayas, but using much different materials and in a far different biosphere. This find, and others like it, continue to change and shape the way archaeologists and anthropologists view civilizations in the region.