As a person looking on from the outside, I see People who don't want to obey the Laws. People who don't want to enforce the laws, and people who really don't care what happens in their community. I'm sadened to see a nice town deteriorate into a in-fighting, back biting, mean spirited community. No wonder you don't have any growth and join in the 21st century. If there is any one there who still has pride in a town that could be great, stand up and fight for it.

Read a good article on the SF News web site that discusses the recent happenings and "Where do we go from here". The new mayor and city counsel has a big job ahead of them to sort out the nonsense that has transpired durning the years of the Beck reign. The first place the new Mayor and the counsel should start is to stop the bleeding with the budget and other city resources. Until the budget is under control and the rains are tightened on the dept. heads nothing will change. Hard decisions will have to be made by the new new mayor and city counsel that will probably require some house cleaning. Most of all the city needs to run a transparent operation.

I'm wondering, where is the silent (apathetic) majority in all of this. The ones who know Bill Beck and respect him and are aware of all the good things he has done in the past 7 years. The ones who voted him into office, where are you when you hear things that are not true---when do you stand up and take the title of layalty and honor on behalf of your friend? No one is perfect and you can never please everyone in any given situation. But the bottom line is, Bill Beck is a honorable and good man who has had the best interests of his city at heart!!!

As a school employee, it was fascinating to see what many parents teach their children about our voting system. If your
man doesn't get in, you can assassinate him. Kill Obama, kill Obama....Obama kill's babies!!!!!!!Obama will make us wear jerseys!!!!!!Obama will take away our guns!!!!!! Obama is going to make us wear uniforms!!!!!!! We need to kill, Obama!!
These were not isolated occurrences, this involved high-school students and on down to elementary aged students. Shame on you!

Beck resigns in stunning fashion you ‘He said the town can go to hell,’ councilman says afterward

ST. ANTHONY — Mayor Bill Beck resigned from his office at the beginning of a City Council meeting in a surprise move Wednesday night.
Councilman Bryan Fullmer said that Beck entered the meeting and resigned, then walked out of the building after making brief remarks directed at the city Council saying your to stupid to work with. Beck told the audience he was tired of people who were too stupid to understand. Really puts things in perspective of Bill Becks opinion of himself and other ha. This move is typical of the superior attitude by which the former mayor run the city. Good Job Bill, you finally got it right.

I have a couple of questions about the St. Anthony Police Department. Was the current Chief of Police hired to be an administrative chief? I have heard that he thinks so, but that is not what was advertised. Why have we lost all of the senior officers in the department? A couple retired (did they really want to or were they forced out?) and two others resigned after being harassed. Why aren't the officers out in the school zones in the morning and afternoon? I see we have a fancy radar cart; does that take the place of the officers? What do they do in the office for hours on end? I thought they were paid to serve and protect. Is that how we save gas, by having them in the office? I have many more questions and comments, but I will see if this raises any concern from anyone else. :-)

I read the article in the paper this morning written by Brian Fullmer. Brian makes it very clear who makes all the decisions in the city. It is obvious the counsel is there for window dressing only. Read Brians comment. "I, as well as other council members was not aware of the actions being taken at the Harris residence. When I found out about the actions being taken, I made every effort to see if the actions taken were legal and express my concerns about the methods used. I was informed that it was the opinion of the city attorney, that the actions taken were legal." This says it all. Non of the cousel members have anything to say about city busness.
On a bit different subject there was also an article about a federal grant. Apparently the city had missed out on this grant. Anyone who knows about the Feds knows there are millions of dollars available in federal grants each year. All you have to do is apply for them. There are many that don't require matching funds. It is to bad that Mayor Beck seems unwilling...

The Saturday edition has led me to do something I never expected to do...publicly discuss something that I think is a very private matter.

I am disappointed in the two editorials regarding California's Proposition 8. I realize this is an ultra-conservative area, and the newspaper reflects the majority view. However, the editorials today crossed a line into new territory with their level of gloating and supremacy. The high and mighty have spoken, and proudly proclaimed their superiority and delight at having beaten back the evils of the world.

And the sad part is, those with opposing views in this area cannot publicly present the other side and offer at least a tiny bit of balance. Doing so would risk family, friends, career and even safety...risks too great to take, risks you might think are exaggerated but are all too real.

I'm not writing this to debate the pros and cons of marriage, or even to argue the points raised. I'm writing to ask for tolerance. Editorials that so proudly berate any segment of our society...

It is outstanding that a recall is underway to get rid of the mayor of St. Anthony. It is a classic case of democracy at work. The tax payers of St. Anthony realize they can't afford any more of Bill Beck and his abuse of power and mismanagment of the city budget. Anyone who has attended a cousel meeting knows how things work. Bill Beck makes all the decisions for the city. Bill will not take suggestions or listen to the counsel memebers. Mr Beck don't care that counselmen are elected and represent the voters of the city. Bill is focused on feeding his own ego and spending tax dollars. He cares nothing about the tax payers of the town. A recall is an excellant idea.

On the night of Nov. 4, the United States appeared to have a spirit of unity it hadn't seen in a long time -- probably since 9/11. Do you think the nation will revert back to the contentiousness of the past few years, or will Barack Obama be able to keep America together?

What do you expect to see from his presidency? Will the economy recover or even prosper? Will he be able to follow up with bringing our troops home? Is his win a guarantee for a more liberal Supreme Court, or do you think its makeup will be about the same?

Answer any or all of these. We want your opinion!

-- uvtalks.com

Looking at the news this morning I see Fremont School Board is at it again. They are still not satisfied with the space they have. In spite of spending millions of dollars on new schools at North and South Fremont (which by the way should have been combined) they want more. I have been actively involved with educators over the last 30 years and have learned from this experience that educators have a huge scence of entitlment. You can never give them enough space and it can never be big enough to satisfy there huge appitites. Of course they don't pay for it someone else does so hey no problem lets just go build some more class rooms and huge offices. Just for the record they are saying that $800,000 will do the job, not hardly. It will be more like 1.5M to do what is planned and thats if the economy is steady.

Before you vote, consider the National Debt, which has increased under the Bush/Reagan terms and the current Bush term. WOW, and did Clinton's term actually decrease this National Debt?????????????????

I came across an old copy of the Island Park News this week that contains a story about Skip Hurt running for his second term as commissioner. I got a good laugh out of it. His first key area of concern is the financial health of the county. If he's so concerned, how can he justify his salary increase and many of the other expenditures he has approved. Like tearing down the old school district building when the county is worried about office space for the extension service and the attorney? He is concerned about the new comprehensive plan, and now that it's been completed, he and the other commissioners are dragging their feet about approving it. He took credit for the snowmobile advisory committee in Island Park. He has nothing to do with it. He secured the grant for the milfoil weed project. I think not. He negotiated the turn lanes at the Red Rock Road in Island Park. Bull. That was in the works long before he came along. He secured the land for the proposed EMS building in Island Park. He's only delayed the...

I wish I could have a talk with David Johnson. In a letter published in Friday's Standard Journal, he has the gall to say Delores Stanton would be alive today if she had been paying attention. Let's see, she waited for the cars to stop, and once they had she proceeded to cross the street. At which time a vehicle not paying attention did not see that cars were stopped and plowed through the crosswalk. Mr. Johnson, however, describes a scenario where he himself almost hit a pedestrian, and it is remarkably similar to what happened to Mrs. Stanton. He doesn't feel the need to pay attention, even when he sees cars stopped at the crosswalk. A good driver would see stopped cars and figure there was a reason for it and at least slow down to make sure all was well. But, to take the burden of good driving off of David's shoulders, pedestrians who come to a crosswalk and percieve cars stopping for them to cross should wave them on, only crossing the street when not a car is in sight to inconvenience. Or, and here's the...

In case you missed the notification in Saturday's paper, and if you are concerned about pedestrian safety in Rexburg, please be sure to attend the Mayor’s Citizen’s Group Meeting on Pedestrian Safety in Rexburg -- Tuesday -- October 28th -- 6:30 p.m. -- in the Westwood Theater.

I am curoius as to why the county commission wont pursue action against the unauthorized subdivisions, especially the one by Mr Munson, not a Fremont County resident, is it because there is $$$$$$ lining the pockets of the officials?

I watched channel 3 last night as Fremont law enforcement removed under feed and sick horses from there owner? I say way to go Fremont County. For some reason the owners doesn't seem to think they need to feed or take care of the livestock. As I drive around the country I see a lot of places with livestock that is being neglected. They are often left to fend for them selves. If you look you will see fences and trees eaten up and in some pasture areas nothing but dirt. Look in the same area where the horses were taken, Virgil B. has a feed lot with cows and calves and the cows are eating there own shit because they are so hungry. Look along the river bottom right in the middle of St. Anthony. There is a pasture that has been eaten right to the dirt. It is unfortunate that folks get these animals and then will not feed or take care of them. I am glad to see something done for a change. Just wait till winter it gets really bad.

Hearing talk around the St. Anthony area about a Commission Chairman selling beef at an aution, and that 1 wasn't his.

The area Brand Inspector caught the discrepancy of the brand and had the sale barn hold the money for that 1 beef to be forwarded to the rightfull owner.

May not be a problem but if there is, how come the local investigative reporter hasn't looked into it. Maybe start with the brand inspector and check sale barns.

Don't most people that take beef to sell mention it up front that they have and odd brand mixed in. Maybe this was the case, the brand inspector would certainly know.

The Standard Journal is calling all filmmakers. (Even if you're not very good!)

Do you have what it takes to scare the socks off the upper valley?

Can you make a video cheesier than ours?

Go to "Videos" (above) and view "The Papers Were Never Delivered." (Or go to the following link: http://www.uvtalks.com/2008/10/14/twhitworth/post-your-ghost )Then get your friends together, make a sequel and upload it to this site. Make sure your video is family friendly. We recommend your post be no longer than three minutes.

Whether or not you are a spooky Spielberg, don't forget to rate the posted videos. (Use the stars.) The winners will get a certificate that entitles the filmmakers to booing rights for the rest of their lives. They will also get their picture in an upcoming Standard Journal.

Your deadline to post is Oct. 31. Your deadline to rate the posts is Nov. 7.

Happy hauntings.

The Standard Journal Web team

I tip my hat to South Fremont and congratulate the Cougars on their big win over Sugar-Salem on Friday night.
While the Cougars' season had been a difficult one up to Friday, it is safe to say that a lot of wrongs from earlier in the season were corrected with the win over Sugar-Salem. South Fremont showed why you throw out the records when rivals get together in any athletic event. South Fremont entered the game with a 1-5 record, while Sugar-Salem came in at 4-2 and fresh off a home win over 3A defending state champion Shelley.
To Sugar-Salem, all I can say is unbelievable. Perhaps, that Shelley game really was a fluke.

Please leave longer access time to the past articles at the bottom of the page. At least two weeks so people that are busy may see them and comment on them.
thank you.

I can't believe that tragically there has been another crosswalk fatality in Rexburg and at the same crosswalk where a life was taken last year. Only this time there are two victims, one fatality and one critically injured. My heart goes out to the family of these two women and I hope for the best for the one who survived last nights horrific accident.

From what I've read it seems obvious that in this case the driver should have been paying closer attention to what was going on. But I see another issue here that should be dealt with. The City of Rexburg has been real good about dealing with this crosswalk when they have had lots of media coverage and can run a hyped up "sting operation." But once the hype is over it's still a deadly situation that needs a permanent solution.

I read in the paper there is a move on by Bill Beck to recognize former mayors of the city. This is being sold as recognition for Boyd Yancy the former mayor. I think Boyd was a fine man and was very conservative in his busniss dealings. I doubt Boyd would favor city tax dollars being spent on somthing of this nature. Anyone who knew Boyd I am sure would agree. This leads me to question what is the real motive for doing this? It would appear to be just another "dog and pony show" by the current mayor. You know the kind he likes to give to the tax payers from time to time. Just think of the possibilities, this could give Bill Beck a chance to imortilize himself for ever in one of the city parks.

To those of you not aware, there is some pretty gosh darn good soccer being played in the upper valley this season.
A total of four teams have pretty good shots at making it to the state tournaments, which begin later this month.
At the 5A level, both of Madison's teams are almost a shoe-in to claim the second seed from District IV-V-VI. With both having suffered a single loss to the top teams in the conference Highland (girls) and Idaho Falls (boys). It would almost take a collapse for either team to miss out on state. But there is a reason why they play games on the field and not on the message boards.
Two other teams in the hunt for a trip to state are the South Fremont and Sugar-Salem boys, who currently sit No. 1 and 2 in the Mountain River Conference. And the biggest match of the season for the Cougars and Diggers is set for Thursday (Oct. 2) in St. Anthony as the Cougars host Sugar-Salem.
If you have a chance to attend this game, you really should because this is a HUGE game. The winner of this game likely...

I don't know how anyone else feels, but Rex Rammell's antics are not doing anything to win my vote. First there was that article in the Standard Journal a few days ago where he was whining about what a hard time he's having in his home town and he actually had the nerve to use his membership in the LDS Church as his political calling card. As a member of the LDS Church myself that is a big turn off to me when a candidate uses their church membership to push their political agendas. Now he's really gone off the deep end by charging the Lt. Governor with a felony over something that happened as a result of him (Rammell) being a poor businessman. Am I alone here or is Rex Rammell making a fool of himself over this campaign? I know one thing and that is that unless something changes soon, he certainly isn't my candidate For U.S. Senate!