Victoreno @ Utah State University in Logan, Utah

1. Logan, Utah, was founded in 1958 by Mormon settlers as part of the pioneer movement to bring the Mormons west from Nauvoo, Illinois.
2. It currently has a population of 47,660 as of 2006. The median age of people according to the census of that year was 24. Thirty-four percent of the people were from the ages of 18-24 and 23.4 percent were under the age of 18.
3. Cultural landmarks in Logan would be the Logan LDS Temple dedicated in 1884 and the Logan LDS Tabernacle. Both are owned and operated by the Mormon Church.
4. Logan has a population that relies on its university, Utah State University. It is described as being a “college town” by local residents with the summer population of the town dropping by nearly 20,000. Utah State University is known for supporting their “Aggies” and college spirit runs high.
5. Logan is located at the foot of high mountains, part of the Rocky Mountains, is set in the valley framed by the mountains, and is located between two canyons. It has four specific seasons, is known for its genuinely cold winters, and is making use of its winter sports capabilities to attract visitors. Snowmobiling, snowboarding, kite snow surfing, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports attract student and visitors to enjoy the outdoors.

Lauralee Browne
Mr. Andersen

Victoreno @ Antelope Island Causeway in Syracuse, Utah

1. Antelope Island is located in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. It is 42 square miles in area. It is the largest island in the largest lake in Utah.
2. The environment is going through major changes. The introduction of bison has proved to be very effective and they have blended well with the antelope, big horn sheep, and millions of waterfowl that inhabit the area.
3. The Great Salt Lake does have a nickname. It is called “America’s Dead Sea” because of the prominence of salt in the water. Those who swim in it float on top of the water. The salt also makes open sores very painful.
4. The surrounding environment has been the home to cattle, ranchers, and large acres of land undeveloped. In only the past two years a golf course has been placed within a mile of the shore leading across to Antelope Island which is now being subdivided. My mom’s grandpa owned 80 acres within a mile of the sign at the entrance. The homestead is still there, but has been subdivided all around making the ranch no longer visible. The homes came with the golf course and now the movement of people has come in the area including Wal-Mart and strip malls that are there.
5. There is no human population on Antelope Island itself, but the surrounding areas on the shores of the lake are expanding rapidly.

Lauralee Browne
Mr. Andersen

Victoreno @ Golden Spike Mountain in Brigham City, Utah

1. Golden Spike Historical Museum is located approximately 30 miles west of Brigham City and 15 miles south of Tremonton in Utah.

2. It’s a famous cultural landmark commemorating the driving of the last spike connecting the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad on May 10, 1859. The final spike was actually made of gold and was placed into a pre-made hole by dignitaries on that date. Visitors can ride on trains re-enacting the event and visit a museum dedicated to preserving the site and its history.

3. The area is desolate for 30 miles in one direction, 15 miles in another, and hundreds of miles south and southwest. It is about the same as when the pioneers first came to the valley in 1847 in nearby Salt Lake. There is no sound when you are out there, it is extremely isolated on that fact, and scary also to be that alone.

4. There are no permanent residents for many miles. Visitors, school children, and tourists are the only people who visit the site and those for not much more than an hour at a time.

5. The climate is hot and dry with sagebrush the most dominant plant. Summer temperatures are usually in the mid 90’s and winter temperatures are in the 30’s.

Lauralee Browne

Mr. Andersen

Victoreno @ Bear Lake in Garden City, Utah

1. Bear Lake is located 45 miles northeast of Logan, Utah. Its elevation is approximately 5,904 feet.

2. A museum with information regarding the Oregon/California trail is a cultural characteristic. The museum is visited by people traveling through Utah from all over the world. It recounts in pictures and memorabilia the struggles and explorations of those who braved the Oregon/California trail during pioneer times.

3. The lake is 20 miles long, 8 miles wide, and 208 feet deep.

4. Bear Lake has four distinct seasons. Water recreational sports attract visitors primarily in the summer and the lake is often known to freeze over in the winter. Local populations enjoy a quiet mountain town with sparse population.

5. Bear Lake does have a nickname. It is known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its temperate summers and enjoyable summer climate. In winter it is becoming increasingly popular as an ice fishing and snowmobiling site. It is also known locally for its raspberries, known to be the best in Utah, from which many businesses catering to the use of raspberries have sprung up along its main routes.

Lauralee Browne
Mr. Andersen

Where Streets became Rivers (Letters from Baja CA) (B4 Mr. Anderson - Kasey Anderson)

The torrential rains pounded the oceanside towns, making rivers out of streets. Could this phenomena be a warning of global warming? This week, the midwest is experiencing record floods killing at least 13 people.

It would be difficult to play the national sport of soccer in the storm. A favorite place for locals to visit is the beaches, but not when they could be swept away into the ocean!

-Tasting the flavor of places across the globe,

Teran & Pepper (aka Kasey)

Angels welcome a Favorite Son (G. Hinckley died 1/27/08) (B4 Mr. Anderson - Kasey Anderson)

It was with deep sadness that we saw the passing of our 15th prophet at age 97 on Sunday, January 27, 2008.

Teran, accompanied by his host family paid his respects at this solemn occasion. Though there was a very long four hour wait in the cold for the viewing on Friday, it was probably be the only time that Teran would have an opportunity to be at a prophet’s passing. He was the only prophet that Kasey (Teran’s host), 15 was familiar with. He was the prophet for about 13 years (since 1995), and he was in the first presidency since 1981. Teran was really impressed with the reverence shown by the Latter Day Saints, especially shown by the children who did not fuss or cry during the tedious wait.

Some of President Gordon B. Hinckley’s contributions include : dedicating more than half of current temples, increase church membership by one-third more, brought the church into the 21st century technology and having an open arm policy to other churches. He is also the recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.

A visit to the Salt Lake City Cemetery where at least 9 of the 15 LDS Church presidents are buried at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City_Cemetery G. Hinckley’s is buried (405 N Main) close that of David O. McKay. Teran visited most of these, but due to blog space limitation, only a few of these are shown here.

In memory of our beloved prophet,
President Gordon Bitner Hinckley (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 2008)
Solemnly, Kasey

Christmas in Little Italy (B4 Mr. Anderson - Kasey Anderson))

Teran spent Christmas immerse in the cultural Christmas festivities of Little Italy. (It is in the sprawling San Diego, California.) In the 1920s, Italians congregated in this area working in the tuna industry. Much is done to try to preserve the historical ethinicity of town and promoting tourism, while beautiful new develeopments are growing all around it. It's always fun to sample the flavors of other countries when the opportunity of foreign traveling is always possible.

-Tasting the flavor of places across the globe,Teran and Pepper (aka Kasey).