FOUR LEAF CLOVER CLUB

The December meeting of the Club was the annual Christmas dinner and program for members and their guests. The roast pork dinner with trimmings was catered by the Sage Mountain Grill.  The prayer before the meal was given by Keith Amende

        The program began with a Mad Lib “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to which attendees supplied the required words.  Keith Amende read “Ten Holiday Commandments for Women” by Beth Levine followed by Carol Amende and Gloria West singing, “Do You Know the Song?”  Carol then sang “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” and “White Christmas” with the audience joining in on the chorus.

        The festive atmosphere was enhanced by the Christmas decor provided by Carol Amende.  At the conclusion of the program, she had each attendee take a slip of paper from a little Christmas tree with slots.  Those drawing specially marked papers were awarded the jars of Christmas candy which were part of the table decorations.  President Mary Amende expresses thanks to the committees for a job well done.

        The January meeting will be Monday the 5th at 7:30 p.m. in the Grange Hall.  The program is under the direction of the Education Committee.

Community Christmas Program

        The annual Albion Community Christmas Program was once again held in the LDS church building.  The Albion Elementary School students presented the program for the evening under the direction of the teachers, Lynette Rowe and Jan Hartwell assisted by Shirlene Rogers, teacher assistant.  Priscilla Richins accompanied some of the songs at the piano.  Recitation was interspersed with songs sung by groups and/or all the students.  Again this year bell choruses by the various grades performed several songs.

        Bruce Bristol, Master of the Albion Grange, presented this year’s Grange Community Citizen Award to Keith and Lorna Rogers.  They were commended for their acts of service in and for the community.  They have instigated several community projects and been involved in many others since moving to Albion.

        To conclude the evening, the students sang Christmas songs until Santa appeared to visit with all the children and hand out bags of treats prepared by the Albion Grange.  Local businesses and civic organizations contributed to help provide the treats.

AIR COMMITTEE

Santa Came to Town

        Some expectant, but rosy faces could be seen Saturday night, December 6, in front of the Library as they awaited a visit from Santa.  As Santa disembarked at the library, the lights on the trees in front of the library and City Office were lit.

        The Committee continued a Christmastime tradition started two years ago.  The Albion Centennial Tree at the

northwest corner of the library became a Memorial Tree for the holidays.  White tole-painted wooden angel ornaments

inscribed with the names of loved ones were hung on the tree

which was lit with only white lights.  Due to the weather only a few who purchased angels this year were present to hang

them on the tree.  The angels will be placed on the tree every

year.  A prayer was led by Kay Powell and Sue Keller led (cont. on pg. 2)

 (cont. from pg. 2)

those assembled in singing “Silent Night”.   

        Inside the library Santa handed out candy canes to the young people who came to tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  The treats were provided by the AIR Committee. Santa then visited with and presented gifts furnished by the committee to shut-ins in the community.

        Also due to the weather, there was no caroling around town this year. 

        The next meeting of the Committee will be Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at Marcella Mahoney’s.  Anyone interested in helping is welcome to attend.

OBITUARY

ROBERT (BOBBY) HOWARD ADAMS, II

48, died Monday, December 22 in Burley.

        He was born July 21, 1955 in Burley, the son of Robert Howard, I and Jeneal Quarnstrom Adams.  He attended Albion Elementary School and Declo High School.  He earned his GED and attended various classes at CSI. 

        Bobby enjoyed playing both winter and summer sports.  He was employed over the years at Idaho Norland, Volco, Kodiak Northwest, and A-1 Seating.  He also was self-employed as a building contractor.  He was a man of many talents including welding, body and fender repair, carpentry, and mechanics.

        He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, at the time of his death, was serving as an Elder.  He had served in other various capacities in the church. 

        Bobby loved the outdoors, playing music, reading, and riding his motorcycle and horses.  He also loved spending time with family and friends.  He was blessed with five wonderful children, Lt. Robert H, III; Jade; Sherad; Shawna Jo; and Chelese.  He is also survived by his parents of Albion; two brothers, Bart A. (Pauline) and Bret D. (Cindy) of Albion; five grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

        Funeral services were held Saturday, December 27 at 11 a.m. in the Albion Ward Chapel with Bishop Kay Powell officiating.  Burial was in the Albion LDS Cemetery.

THANK YOU NOTES

    To our dear friends,

We are so grateful for the wonderful acts of kindness that have been shown us-- for your visits, thoughts, and prayers; food, cards, calls and other gifts; and the comfort they brought us in our time of such deep sorrow.

     Our love, thanks, and gratitude,

        Robert and Jeneal Adams

       Bart and Pauline Adams and family

       Bret and Cindy Adams and family

    We wish to thank Kody Chatburn, Daniel Zunino, Brian Brackenbury, and Brian Homan for rescuing us.  They spent two and half hours digging us out when we became stuck in a snow drift south of Albion.  We really appreciate what they did for us.

               Curtis and Michelle Rickins

     Thank you so much to everyone who sent cards, flowers, and food to us upon the death of my sister.  It was so appreciated.

                     Connie and Rich Redman

AMERICAN LEGION

        Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  The past year was very busy and eventful for Albion Post 124, and it is carrying over into 2004.

        The annual Christmas Party was a success, and a great big thank you goes out to our Ladies Auxiliary for their wonderful dinner.  What would the guys do if we did not have them!  On behalf of the American Legion, Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Auxiliary President Harriet Cole and  Keith Rogers for what he has done for the Albion Post and Community.  Last but not least, a plaque was presented to Past Commander Don Bowden, for his leadership as the Post Commander.  Current Commander Ed Pace and Adjutant Don Gunderson made the presentations.

        Our first meeting of 2004 will be Tuesday, January 13 at 7 p.m. in the Albion Grange Hall.  Please bring a buddy that cannot make it on his or her own.  Let's make this a successful meeting, as we have a lot or work for which to prepare.

        The Legion Mid-Winter Conference will be held in Boise at the Owyhee Hotel January 16-17.  If you would like to attend, you can call 1-800-233-4611 for reservations.  Please state that you are with the American Legion.  During the joint opening on Saturday, Children & Youth Chairman Don Gunderson will be presenting new toys, stuffed animals, and donated funds to the Director of MSTI (Mountain States Tumor Institute) from St. Luke’s Hospital, on behalf of the Children & Youth Commission.  On Thursday, January 15, there is a Legislative Banquet for our Senators and Representatives during which the various veterans organizations will present the Veterans Resolutions, for 2004.

        The Fifth District Oratorical Contest will be held at the Paul Post #77 on Saturday January 31st at 10 a.m.  Darrell Hatfield is the District Chairman, and he will need volunteers to help with the contest.  If you can volunteer please contact me at 673-5359.

        Membership!  Well we tried!  We did not get 100% by December 31, 2003.  Sorry, Commander.  We ended up with 86.45%.  Anyone who has not paid needs to get their dues in; they are still only $20 per year.  In looking over the roster, we need to contact new veterans to join our Post if we are to make the 100% goal this year.  We need two new members. They are out there just waiting to get involved, but you must ask.

        On behalf of Commander Pace, we would like to thank Masako Endow for her generous donation in memory of her husband, Sage Endow.  The donation will go towards our community Legion Programs.  Sage was a World War II Veteran who lived and farmed in the Malta area.  Masako is currently living in Boise. 

        Please contact Post Chaplain Keith Amende or myself if  there is a veteran or family member on sick call and/or in need of assistance.  If we can help, we will.

        The County Service Officer, Dick Dalton, can be reached at 208-678-3599.  His office is located at the airport in Burley.  Office hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.  If you call and leave a message, Dick will get back to you.  If a veteran needs to be transported to Twin Falls or Boise, a medical van is available. Contact Dick for scheduling.

                Still Serving The Veteran

                    Don Gunderson, Post Adjutant

LEGION AUXILIARY

        Best wishes to all of our legion family for a wonderful and healthy new year!  Hope the flu bug is avoided by most of us!  We have much to accomplish this year.

        American Legion, Department of Idaho Mid-Winter Conference is January 15-18th at the Owhyee Plaza Hotel in Boise.  Registration at the door is $5.  Call the Gundersons at 673-5359 for more information if you wish to attend.

        We had a wonderful Christmas party, didn't we?  The food was great and of course the company cannot be beat!  Thank you to all of the people who brought the delicious things to eat!!  Thank you, too, to all who brought the

toys for the MSTI Toy Barn.  We had a great response and Don Gunderson will be delivering those toys to the Mountain States Tumor Institute representative at the Mid-Winter Conference.  We know the toys are a great comfort to those children who have gone through so much.

        We need to get the last of the membership dues turned in to Shirley Danner or to Mary Lynne Bristol so that we can put the membership problem behind us and work on other priorities.  So please, if you have not yet sent in your membership fee, please do so now.

        Albion American Legion is to host for the 5th District Spring Convention in April.  That will be something to look forward to, but much planning needs to be done beforehand.

        Our January meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13th in the Albion Grange Hall kitchen.  See you there!

                         Harriet Cole, President

SCHOOLS

        The end of the second nine weeks or semester will be January 16.  School will be dismissed three and half hours early that day for District Staff Development.

ALBION BULLDOGS

        Albion Elementary students presented the program for the Albion Community Christmas Program.  They were directed by their teachers, Lynette Rowe and Jan Hartwell, with assistance from Shirlene Rogers, educational assistant.  Recitation was interspersed with singing and bell choruses.  At the conclusion of the evening, the students sang Christmas songs until Santa appeared to visit with the children and hand out treats.

DHS

        Congratulations to Spencer Mendenhall and Kylie Montgomery, for being selected as Citizens of the Month.

SENIOR NOTES

        The Seniors had a special Christmas treat following their dinner on December 17.  The Albion Elementary School children presented a Christmas program of song, recitation,  and bell choruses.  Joy Hurst accompanied at the piano.  The students were each given a candy cane.

        Each Senior also received a bag of treats from “Santa” that day.  It contained a can of pop, candy, and peanuts.

        Dues are again due now that a new year has begun.  They are $1 per person per year.  They are to be paid to Iona Bailey.

        Menus for January are:

January 7-baked salmon, baked potatoes, cole slaw, rolls, dessert and beverages;

January 14-meat loaf, potatoes and gravy, veggies, salad, rolls, dessert, and beverages;

January 21-chili, crackers, relish tray, rice pudding, cookies, and beverages; and

January 28-roast beef, potatoes and gravy, vegetable, tossed salad, dessert, and beverages.

ALBION GRANGE

        The Albion Grange gave this year’s Grange Community Citizen Award to Keith and Lorna Rogers.  It was presented by Master Bruce Bristol during the Community Christmas Program.  They were recognized for their acts of service in and for the community during the years they have lived in Albion. 

        The Grange family Christmas dinner and program was again held between Christmas and New Years on Tuesday, December 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Grange Hall.  The traditional homemade chicken noodle dinner with trimmings was served buffet style.  The prayer before the dinner was given by Keith Amende.  Performers on the program included members, their children, grandchildren.  Mary Lynne Bristol gave a quiz about Christmas songs.  Gloria West read an original poem, “Of Mice with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore.”  Then Helen Anderson gave a couple of jokes followed by Keith Amende who read “When Pigs Fly”  and a joke.  An original poem, “You’re Safer Than You Think” by Philana Phillips was read by Carol Amende.

THE ALBION MOUNTAIN RANGE

a semi-geological view by Keith Rogers

        The Albion Mountain Range is not large.  It stretches only from just east of Declo to just southwest of Almo, about 38 miles.  From Conner Pass on the east to Birch Creek on the west, it's only 15 miles!  For all of us who live nearby, the Albion Mountains are very important, beautiful, and life-sustaining.

        We love the lakes which lie in the cavities below the cirques carved out by the glaciers which melted the last time about ten thousand years ago.  Even Pomerelle Ski Resort sits in a glacial cirque!  At Lake Cleveland, in Elba, Almo, the City of Rocks, Mount Harrison, Cache Peak and many other places can be seen glacial till, terminal and lateral moraines, erratic boulders, and other evidence that the Albion Mountains were subject to the action of glaciers for many, many thousand of years.  We enjoy camping, picnics, barbecues, reunions, horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing, fishing, hiking, touring, wood-cutting, studying nature and geology, hunting, and other activities on the Albion Mountains.  The water that runs off in all directions is essential.

        As mountains, the Albion Mountains are relatively young, but many significant events have occurred during their total lifetime. In 1976 a geologist named Armstrong was studying the Albion Mountains.  In the bottom of Green Creek, just south of Elba, he found a complex of metamorphic rock dated at 2.44 billion years old, and that rock is sitting on top of what is called the Archean Wyoming Complex that is 3 billion years old.  That was the real beginning of the rocks, but the mountains are less than 30 million years old!

        After the earth was put together about 4.6 billion years ago, it was long time before continents began to develop. When what finally became the north American continent came together, most of it was near or below sea level for hundreds of millions of years.  This allowed the accumulation of sediments along with layers of igneous rock, all of which eventually became metamorphosed to become the basement rock for the Albion Mountains!  Then things really began to happen!  Very slowly.

        For hundreds of millions of years there was no life on earth.  Continents were gradually forming.  Rocks were eroding and sand, clay, and mud were being deposited in the shallow seas covering the continents, to eventually become the rock of Albion Mountains.  Finally life developed, and eventually limestone was deposited to become metamorphosed dolomite and marble along with the gneiss, schist, and quartzite (all metamorphic rocks) that make up our mountains.

        Geologists use the word "orogeny" to mean "mountain building".  Orogenesis takes place when forces within the crust of the earth, or even deeper, cause pressure enough to move whole or parts of continents.  The Albion Mountains have been pulled apart, pushed together, folded over, spun around, slid sideways, showered by volcanoes, split by dikes, eroded by wind and water, covered by ice, burned, blasted by the sun, mined and bulldozed by man, and run through cycles of orogenesis for 3 billion years, but most of the abuse has happened only during the last 150 million years!  The Sierra (cont. on pg. 5)

(cont. from pg. 4)

Nevadan, Sevier, and Laramide orogenies all had some effects on the part of the North American Tectonic Plate that our mountain was part of, though most of the time it was likely under water.  The heat, pressure, and chemicals during all these events caused metamorphosis of the rocks. Fortunately the simple sandstone has turned to quartzite that has been quarried and sent all over the world! Granite is also quarried and mineral located.

        Most of the 10,200 feet of Cache Peak and the 9,600 feet of Mount Harrison are the result of 30 million of local orogenesis.  Magma is a huge mass of molten rock from deep within the mantle of the earth which forces its way toward the surface.  If it extrudes and explodes, it becomes a volcano.  If it extrudes, but doesn't explode, it's a lava vent.  It can be both.  The big bulge that it makes in the earth is called a pluton.  About 30 million years ago the Almo Pluton intruded into the mantle of the earth.  Before it got to the surface, it stopped and began to cool and harden into a granite dome covered with thousands of feet of layers of metamorphic rock. This rock had already started to erode as soon as the pluton had started to push up.

        After the Almo Pluton, at least three more plutons pushed their way up through the crust of the earth.  The pluton under Mount Harrison is named the Big Bertha after an old mine of that name.  Geologists have also named the Cache Peak Pluton and the City of Rocks Pluton.  Some geologists believe these plutons are all part of one larger structure called a laccolith, one huge mushroom shaped dome of granite covered with the metamorphosed sedimentary rock pushed up on top.  Millions of years of erosion have removed much of the rock and have exposed some of the granite.  The City of Rocks and Castle Rock State Park (both eroded granite) are there for us to enjoy because of the erosion, as well as the beautiful canyons and valleys.  Much of the shaping of the higher peaks has been done by glaciers that existed off and on during millions of years.

        The Albion Mountains apparently got their name after 1889 when "Marsh Basin" was changed to "Albion" as more befitting the name of a county seat.  It is believed that "Albion" means something like "high, white, shining, mountain".  It is actually archaic for "Britain" and means "white cliffs", probably with Latin roots in reference to the White Cliffs of Dover.

        In 1905 the federal government established a system of forest reserve lands which included this mountain they later called "Albion Mountain".  The first forest ranger appointed for Albion Mountain was George H. Severe in 1907.  The first major concerns were over-grazing, timber, forest fires and wild game!  Today we have a much greater impact on the mountain because we are so numerous and demand so much. Let's learn all we can, so we can appreciate our Albion Mountains as much as possible.

CALENDAR

JANUARY 2004

1- NEW YEARS DAY

2- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

3-  Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      Library closed

4- Church

5- *School resumes

    *Four Leaf Clover Club-7:30pm-Grange Hall

6- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

    *CITY COUNCIL-7pm-City Office

7- *Senior Citizens-Board meeting-10:30am

                              dinner-noon 

      Scouts & Young Women-7pm-LDS Church

8- Students to library-9am

     Highway District meeting-7pm-988 S 1000 E

9- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

10- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      Library open-10am-2pm

          Jennifer Friedrichson, Darlene Wahlgren

11- Church 

13- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      *Legion &Auxiliary-7pm-Grange Hall

      School Board meeting, 7pm-Central Office

14- *Senior Citizens-dinner-noon

       Scouts & Young Women-7pm-LDS Church

15-17- *Legion Mid Winter Conference-Boise

15- Grange-7:30pm-Grange Hall

16- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      *End of second nine weeks

         school dismissed 3 ½ hours early

17- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      Library open-10am-2pm

          Edie Fitzgerald, Mary Amende

18- Church

19-25- *Souper Bowl Week

19- MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY

20- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

21- *Senior Citizens- Blood Pressure Check-11am

      dinner-noon

Scouts & Young Women-7pm-LDS Church

23- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      *Card party-7:30pm-Grange Hall

24- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      Library Open-10am-2pm

          Arlene Smyer, Judith Heller

25- Church

      *Souper Bowl Sunday

27-  Albion Valley News items due

      Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

28- *Senior Citizens-dinner-noon

       Scouts & Young Women-7pm-LDS Church

30- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

31- Transfer site open-10am-5:30pm

      Library Open-10am-2pm

          Carey Leach, Dawn Koenig

*For only $1 you can have someone’s birthday or anniversary or other celebration put on the calendar.  Just call, send a note, or put a note in the AVN box.

11/26/97 7:52 AMCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

-Jeff Poulsen, City Auditor, was present to review the 2003 audit of the city accounts; he stated that it was a clean report;  after pointing out that the General Fund was over budget largely due to a grant not being received on time, it was noted that transfers within funds should have been made; he emphasized that the total budget was in the black due to enterprise funds being under budget; he commended and thanked City Clerk Mary Yeaman for her help; the Council accepted the audit; Poulsen informed the Council that a little more interest could be earned by placing reserve funds in the state pool;

-Bob Johnson who has purchased eight acres south of town, a small portion of which is in the city limits, asked about hooking up to the city electrical system; it was determined that the city electrical ordinance allows for such a hookup;  Councilman Don Bowden was assigned to confer with Raft River Rural Electric Co-op about the matter; Mayor Don Danner told Johnson the City would work with him;

-he contract with Bruce Bristol to be Albion’s Chief of Police was reviewed, and vacation and sick leave set at half those received by a full time employee as listed in the Personnel Handbook; it was noted that he will not receive health insurance benefits because he has his own insurance; the contract was to finalized and signed the day following the council meeting; the Council ratified a decision, reached by an earlier polling of  the council members, to purchase a patrol vehicle that is being traded in by the Sheriffs Department;

-the mayor was authorized to sign an agreement with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality regarding a $15,000 Drinking Water Planning Grant awarded to the City for the study of the City’s water systems; approval was also given for the mayor to sign a redrafted Order to Proceed to be sent to Galena Engineering so the company can begin phase two of the water study;

-Attorney Kerry McMurray reported that the County Commissioners have agreed to have the county surveyor survey and re-plat the Hunter Addition in north Albion; he noted that, if the eleven landowners do not accept the new plat, the property lines may have to be settled in court;

-in discussion about amending the electrical ordinance, McMurray reminded the Councilmen that he still needs direction from them as to what changes they want made; it was agreed to ask Raft River Electric, who does the maintenance work for the city, to provide technical assistance; two ordinances were amended-one changed the required width of sidewalks in the city from five feet to four feet and the other revised the beer licensing process bringing it into compliance with state and county codes;

-under new business, Mayor Danner reported that he would have a new draft of the City Management Structure for the January meeting because of the new council members who will take office then; he noted that the Gem Community Plan for the year will need to be prepared in January in order to renew the city’s certification as a Gem Community; he also recommended having a mid-year budget review in February which he suggested be a separate meeting from the regular monthly meeting.

-Resident Deputy Sgt. Robert Nay reported that the city received eighteen hours of patrol time during November and eight or nine tickets were written;

-it was reported that Animal Control Officer Stewart Waldemar had picked up three dogs and taken them to the animal shelter in Burley;

-Councilman Len Marrs was assigned to draft a request for bids regarding installation of a chlorination system upgrade for the city lagoon now that DEQ has approved the design;

-Len reported that work on the new fire station is progressing well and nearly on schedule with most of the concrete poured and erection of the steel building ready to begin;

-Len reported that two representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers are to come to Albion in January to look over the drainage ditch through the north side of the city as part of the process to see if there is any assistance the Corps can give the city in preventing occasional severe flooding from the ditch;

-approval was given for City Clerk Mary Yeaman to upgrade Quick Books and Windows on the city computer;

-a variance request by Roger Jenkins for property on the southeast corner of Market and West Streets was referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission.