$1.50 December 30, 2022 | Vol. 1 Iss. 14
See Inside... Covering Your Community
Residents show their Holiday spirit
Volunteers jump in to help carriers deliver Amazon packages
page 3
MORGAN COUNTY NEWS Since 1929
NEWS BREAK Winter Storms cause havoc across U.S.
Over the holiday week, record low temperatures and storms have created dangerous conditions in many places across the country. Erie County, New York has recorded at least 28 deaths as a result of extreme freezing conditions and whiteouts. Nationwide, the death toll has been tallied at 51 as of Tuesday morning, which is historically one of the worst single week recorded fatalities related to winter weather. A number of other states have also recorded winter-weather related fatalities over the same time period.
MHS Spirit Squad performs at Winter Classic competition By Ethan Hoffmann
K
erigan Ovard, a senior on the Morgan High School cheer team, had the opportunity to be captain recently. Sue Kelsey, the advisor of the cheerleading squad at MHS, gives all the seniors a chance to be captains. They rotate captains each week, which allows different members to decide what they want to do for
that specific period. Ovard was captain of the cheer team for a competition called the Winter Classic, which took place on Dec. 3. At the competition, they performed seven routines. “We were able to get first place in the six routines we competed in together, but the seventh was newer to us,” said Ovard. “It was a stunt pod competition.” A stunt pod competition is where stunt pods come up with their
own original routine and compete in it. In context, a stunt pod is a group of four people: two bases, a flyer, and a back spot. At the competition, they had an extra spotter on the mat. Their job was no less important than the rest of the team. A spotter’s job is to pay close attention to the routine and help catch a flyer in case of a bad fall. In addition, they are also a significant
CHEER on page 2
Morgan Valley comes together to show No One Fights Alone By Verlene Johnson
J
une 11, brought over 200 members of the community together with a 10k and 5k run, a CrossFit Unknown workout and silent auction with all proceeds going to four brave warriors fighting cancer in Morgan. No One Fights Alone in a non-profit organization organized by Morgan resident, Bobbi Eddy, who wanted to pay it forward after the community helped her family when her brother was battling cancer. One hundred percent of the money raised and donation stay local. Donations can be made at No One Fights Alone 5k and Instagram at no_one_fights_alone-5k.l
DOUG DINGMAN accepting the donation on behalf of his son, Sam Dingman, eighth grader at Mountain Green Middle School.
Putin signals a willingness to discuss terms for Ukraine
After months of fighting in Ukraine Putin suggested that he was willing to discuss potential solutions to the conflict. This comes as the Russian military has recently suffered massive losses of both material and forces in fiercely held areas of Ukraine. For its part, Ukraine regards the gesture as empty, stating that “they are simply looking to avoid responsibility” for the invasion.
Meteorite reveals two previously undiscovered minerals
A meteorite discovered in 2020 in Somalia has revealed the existence of two minerals never before seen on Earth, according to the University of Alberta. The university’s Electron Microprobe Laboratory determined that two of the substances contained within had never been observed by scientists before. The minerals have been named elaliite (after the meteor itself) and elkinstantonite (after a professor at the school’s Earth and Space Exploration Program). A potentially new third element has also been identified.
North Idaho woman has second largest nutcracker collection in world
CJ Davis has been noted as holding the second largest nutcracker collection in the world, with a collection that includes 3,500 of the holiday fixture—a mixture of practical and whimsical items that fill her house. She plans to donate the collection to a museum in Washington where she served on the board for 18 years somewhere down the road.
GARRETT SNELGROVE, sixth grader at Mountain Green Middle School.
LISA BETZ, wife and mother of two daughters.
TIFFANY NETZ, fourth grade teacher at Morgan Elementary School.
SAM DINGMAN EIGHTH GRADER at Mountain Green Middle School.
Anglers and waterfowl hunters advised to exercise caution this winter
Over the past 10 years, 67 percent of fatal boating accidents in Idaho were the results of individuals falling out of small boats. These fatalities are increased during freezing temperatures when exposure to extremely cold water temperatures can lead to hypothermia and other issues. Experts cite overloading boats, especially for hunting, as the major cause of boating related fatalities, and encourage hunters to wear life jackets, operate in daylight hours, and abstain from alcohol while hunting.