The Mayor's Corner 12/11/2019

Mayor Diana Thomas

A special thank you the City Crews, Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation, participants and Santa for another outstanding parade and Festival of Trees to kick off the Christmas time in Weiser. The fireworks were outstanding and it was fun to see so many participants of all ages in the parade ushering in the Christmas season.

I understand the presentation at the Heritage Center Friday and Saturday night were full houses and provided another fun opening to Christmas. Thank you to the Duck Soup Brigade for all their hard work. As I have often said, we have a community full of amazing talent.

With the snow on hold for a while, we think, the Street crew will be back on picking up leaves as weather and time allow. The ordinance officer will continue to work with residents to get the streets cleared of unused vehicles and trailers to make plowing and leaf pick up easier. We are also asking businesses to keep sidewalks cleared of obstructions to accommodate pedestrians.

Again, a reminder to clear windshields before driving. The colder weather and moist air leaves beautiful Jack Frost designs on the windshield but they are dangerous to drive while looking through. Also remember the black ice on the roadways in early mornings and late at night.

Representatives from our Wastewater Treatment Plant will be visiting businesses around town about the F.O.G. interceptors and traps. These are receptacles place in business that keep Fats, Oils, and Greases from going down the sewer lines in large quantities. If these receptacles are not present the F.O.G. solidifies and creates build up in the lines. Businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, delis, and bars are required to have a plan for disposal of their F.O.G. The Wastewater Treatment team will visit with the businesses and give them best practices to help them with their plans. This is a good time to get them cleaned out before the cold weather compounds the problem.

It was impressive to read of the success of the W.H.S. Robotic team and competition. This program has grown in our schools and 4-H program over the last several years. Jon Lundberg has developed a great program that provides a learning experience the participants can build on as they go on in their lives.

In fact, I was recently watching the news and saw one of our former robotics competitors for WHS, Colton Burr who is currently a student at NNU. His engineering class along with Caldwell High School engineered a satellite and watched it be launched into space. I’m sure Colton’s experience with robotics has helped add to his interest in this area.

The Weiser City Council canvased and accepted the results of the November 4 election. This makes the results of the election final. The swearing in ceremony will take place on Monday, January 13 at approximately 7:15 pm. Public is invited to attend all Council meetings and this will again be open for the public to watch.

The annual Santa’s Ho Ho Express sponsored by Steve’s Hometown Motors and other community volunteers and donors is scheduled for Saturday, December 21. Santa is always looking for volunteers to help the shoppers and for wrappers to meet the kids at the high school to help wrap their presents. Wrappers are usually needed around 10:00 am and helpers should contact Santa. Santa also takes the Annex shoppers earlier that week. Contact the school to volunteer.

This week is the Living Nativity at the Nazarene Church on Indianhead Friday and Saturday night. The Community Christmas Cantata will be at Weiser High School on Sunday at 4 pm. Check with the schools for their program schedules. Kids are a big part of Christmas.

Drive carefully and enjoy the many Christmas activities around the community.