Local Children Get Early Halloween Treat In Historic Downtown Payson

Local children got an early start on Halloween festivities last night at the Payson Library. Spooky stories, interactive music-making, art, costume previews, and, of course, treats were all part of the fun at the holiday Family & Friends Night held October 30.

Main Street was abuzz during the event.  After taking part in the Library's activities, some families meandered north and into Utah Trikes' haunted warehouse, an event that is slated to resume this evening.

Others were spotted perusing the aisles and shelves loaded with nostalgic and whimsical candy and wares at Goofy Guys at 12 South Main, a building once occupied by The Payson Chronicle, all on Halloween eve.

Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Services

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

Forthcoming funeral services are planned for the following friends from our community. Complete versions of these obituaries may also be found in The Payson Chronicle.

David Allan Shuler

“Dave”

December 27, 1956 – October 28, 2017

Our loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully at his home following a short, but valiant, battle with cancer.  

Dave was born on December 27, 1956, to Sterling Hal and Carolyn Davis Shuler in Provo, Utah.  Dave was the fourth of six children and grew up in a loving home on the “Goosenest Ranch” in what is now the city of Elk Ridge, Utah. Dave would often reflect on his many fond memories of growing up on the farm and treasured his simple farm roots. As a lifelong member of the LDS church Dave served a mission to the Milan, Italy Mission. Upon returning home he met and married Terri Hamilton on May 25, 1979. Together they had five children. They later divorced.  On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2016, he married Ashley Barker Tolman.

Dave graduated from BYU with a degree in Earth Science and a master’s degree in Anthropology. Dave’s passion for serving others extended into his life’s vocation. Upon graduating from BYU he worked for the Church Educational System where he taught seminary and institute. Dave taught in Princeton, New Jersey, for over three years before going on to establish the CES program in India. After leaving CES, Dave went to work for BYU supervising students as they prepared for international internships and field studies. Through his programs he has touched the lives of thousands of people throughout the world. Dave truly loved teaching and mentoring students. Even after being diagnosed with his illness, and as recently as three weeks ago, Dave was still attempting to teach his new “happiness course” to inmates at the Utah State Prison through Salt Lake Community College. As a lifelong student himself, Dave continually sought knowledge and understanding. He loved learning about other cultures and has traveled extensively throughout the world on his quest to better understand his fellow man.  

Dave is survived by his loving wife Ashley Shuler of Salt Lake City, his children Joseph (AmberLee) Shuler, Jacob (Cassandra) Shuler, Joelle (Brandon) Rasmussen, Jessica Shuler (Clay Olsen), and Julia Shuler; his siblings Karl (Sharon) Shuler, Wendy (Lee) Pope, Jay (Kate) Shuler, Brad (Melissa) Shuler, and Sarah Shuler; seven grandchildren Deryck, Jaivri, Alyssia, Brianna, Kyla, Lucas and Nora, and Terry Hamilton. Dave was preceded in death by his parents. 

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 3, 2017, at 11:00 AM at the LDS chapel at 951 E 100 S in Salt Lake City. Family and friends may call Thursday, November 2 at the chapel from 6 PM to 8 PM or Friday from 9:30-10:30 prior to the service at the chapel. 

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that a donation be made to an international NGO / charity in Dave’s name. 

“I don’t die…He who is merged with the omnipresent is never gone” ~ Guru Nanak

DEIS Meeting Draws Crowd

Pictured: Payson City Councilwoman Linda Carter (center, green vest) and other local residents examine a map illustrating a prospective future for I-15 in the Payson area.

Payson High's spacious auditorium and hallway outside accommodated a good sized crowd gathered there last night for UDOT's public hearing involving the Draft Environmental Impact Study. More to come in the next edition of #ThePaysonChronicle. 

#phslions #paysonut#udot #mainstreet #utahnews#readthepaysonchronicle

#flashbackFriday #fbf PHS Yearbook From The Past

#flashbackfriday #fbf From the pages of a Payson High School yearbook past. Do you recognize these students? Can you guess the school year?

#phslions#paysonut #utah #readthepaysonchronicle

Santaquin Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed Bonds

Pictured: Santaquin City Manager Ben Reeves (standing, far right, near podium) led a conversational style discussion with residents seated inside the Santaquin Senior Citizen Center last night, October 26, 2017.

Many attending last night’s discussion concerning a proposition for the construction of a new Santaquin community cultural center, which would include a senior citizen center and library, spoke against authorizing the City to issue General Obligation Bonds of to up to six million dollars.

It’s up to voters to decide.  The bond proposition is on ballots this election season in Santaquin.

More to come in the upcoming edition of The Payson Chronicle.

Subscribe to The Payson Chronicle for a year for only $25 ($23 senior citizen rate) in Utah County, $50 ($45 for senior citizens) outside Utah County.  Pay by mail at The Payson Chronicle, PO Box 361, Payson, UT 84651, in person at 145 East Utah Avenue #5, Payson, or through Paypal with paysonchronicle@gmail.com.

What are you thankful for?

The Payson Chronicle would like to help you express your thoughts and feelings of gratitude this season with a Custom Thanksgiving Greeting ad.  

Order a $50 business card or $85 postcard-sized space (b&w) and we will create a unique greeting card style message for you to share with the local community.  There’s no extra cost for design.

Contact Mike at thepaysonchronicle@msn.com or Denise at paysonchronicle@gmail.com by Friday, November 17 to reserve your space in the November 22, 2017 Thanksgiving Greeting Edition.

Artists Reception October 27 For Deana Floyd and Mackenzie Nelson Exhibit

Portraits by artist Mackenzie Nelson hang side by side (above).

Pictured to the left: “Venus” by artist Deana Floyd

Deana Floyd and Mackenzie Nelson have brought their paintings together for one show at the Peteetneet Museum Art Gallery.  Meet both artists on Friday, October 27, at a reception that runs from 6-8 PM.

Going On Tonight

Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Services

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

Forthcoming funeral services are planned for the following friends from our community. Complete versions of these obituaries may also be found in The Payson Chronicle.

Dorthella Bryson Benson

Dorthella Bryson Benson left this mortal life peacefully in her sleep on the morning of October 23, 2017. She is now reunited with her beloved husband Glen and adored son Dennis. She has faithfully endured to the end and has earned her angel wings.

Dorthella was born August 6, 1933 during the Great Depression to Otis David and Florence Emma Daley Bryson in the front bedroom of her grand-parents’ home in Payson, UT. She loved growing up among so many dear cousins, aunts and uncles and playmates.

She was a beautiful woman who stole the heart of a handsome Spring Lake gentleman, Glen Wayne Benson. They were married July 17, 1951, and spent their wedding night camping in Payson Canyon. They lived a happy, beautiful life together. They were blessed with their first child, Lynn on April 18, 1952 and just a few years later a second son Dennis joined their happy family on December 12, 1954. They loved traveling, camping, fishing and spending time with their great friends and family. The doctors told her she would never have any additional children after the two boys; but their only daughter Deborah was determined to join the family and surprised everyone when she was born on October 17, 1966. She was spoiled by her dad and brothers, but completed their family.

Dorthella was extremely talented in so many ways. She was an excellent seamstress, making her kids clothes, quilts, & porcelain dolls. She also was talented quilter and spend many days sitting around a quilt at her mother’s house with all of the Daley sisters and cousins while the kids happily played underneath the quilt. She was a ferocious reader and loved bookstores and could always be found in her purple chair curled up with a good book. 

She was a loving, caring giving person. She welcomed everyone into her home, family, friends, missionaries, her children and grandchildren’s friends and she loved everyone.

She loved being a part of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and cherished all the friendships she made in her group.  She also loved her weekly “Sisters Lunch” with the Benson sisters. She also loved her grandchildren more than anything. She never missed a baseball game, football game, play, orchestra/band concert, track meet, basketball game, wrestling match, cheer, dance competition and any of the activities her grandchildren were involved in. She bragged about them to everyone and never missed a birthday or activity.

Sadly, she lost the love of her life on June 26, 1990 when her husband Glen tragically drowned in a boating accident. She has waited 27 years to be reunited with him and missed him dearly. She drove to the cemetery several times each week to visit with Glen, Dennis and her parents. What a glorious reunion they are having now.

She was preceded in death by her parents Otis & Florence Bryson, her husband Glen Wayne Benson, her son Dennis B. Benson, & her brother David Bryson.

She is survived by her son Lynn Wayne (Betty) Benson of Spring Lake, Deborah (David) Smith of Payson  her daughter-in-law Robin Benson, Bristol, CT. She is also survived by Ten grandchildren Melynda (Von) Christiansen), Beaver, UT , Jody (Katie) Benson, Orem, UT, Cascade (Moroni) Pickering, Mapleton, UT, Denali (Jeffren) Roper, Spanish Fork, UT, Lacy Benson (Raleigh, NC), Kendra Ellsworth, Bristol, CT, Dalton Smith, SLC, UT, Spensor Smith, Spring Lake, UT, Aspen (Justin) Carter, Santaquin, UT & Easton Smith, St. George, UT. Sixteen great-grandchildren – Meili, Caleb, Kya & Joshua Christiansen, Joseph, Kali, Carter, & Tate Benson, Crysania, Bowen, Elijah, Sarah, & Alayna Pickering,  Victoria, Shellby, & Lincoln Roper. She is also survived by one brother Lorell (Jean) Bryson and a sister Louise (Richard) Stapley. Many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends, especially her Spring Lake family.

A viewing in her honor will be held Thursday, October 26, 2017 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Walker Funeral Home at 587 South 100 West Payson, UT. Friends & Family may also attend a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:45 am – 10:45 am at the Spring Lake Church. 12625 South Spring Lake Road. The funeral will be held at 11 at the same location at the Spring Lake Church. Burial will be in the Payson City Cemetery.

Payson Officials Hope To Bring Pickleball and Basketball Courts To Memorial Park

Pickleball may soon replace the tennis courts located on the southeast corner of Memorial Park (pictured above). A new basketball court, say leaders, is also planned for this section of the public park in central Payson.

Pickleball is all the rage, say Payson City officials, and courts accommodating its play, along with a few for basketball, could be constructed on Memorial Park’s southeast corner, where a tennis court and adjoining parking lot exist today. The new amenities were proposed as possible options for improving Memorial Park during the October 18, 2017, city council meeting in Payson.

According to Dave Tuckett, Payson City Manager, the proposal offers a combination of four to six pickleball courts, basketball courts, and parking. While there are other amenities in the park that could also be improved--the old bath house, for instance--replacing the tennis courts is being considered due to their poor condition, according to Mr Tuckett.

“We kind of feel like this might be the way to go,” he said.  “Pickleball’s pretty popular right now. [City staff] feel like something active is better at the park than non-active, just putting a pavilion or adding grass, [to] get people to use that.”

The courts at local junior and senior high schools are accessible by city residents already, he added.  “We have plenty of tennis courts around the community,” Mr Tuckett said.

“We have tennis courts down that really are in sad shape,” Councilman Mike Hardy agreed.

“I’m for anything that will get people to come down and use them,” Councilman Hardy added.  “So if we feel comfortable that we have enough parking, I’m happy with that.”

But Councilman Hardy did cite some concern over a loss of parking in the area with the project’s construction.  He said that he has been in the park at times when the pavilion has been in use and parking has been an issue.  

However, “You lose very little of it on the south end,” replied Mr Tuckett.  

Memorial Park benefits from its proximity to a school and church, according to Tracy Zobell, City Golf Pro and Groundskeeper.  “The citizens usually don’t park there, outside the pavilion use," Mr Zobell said. "It’s usually for the carnival workers or people that are doing functions in the park.  I don’t think it will affect the general public.”

Mr Zobell noted that a drop-off area could be considered in order to assist with pavilion parking problems.  Still, “We do have a lot of parking around that park,” he said.

As for the cost?  “To do this with the proper flooring and the proper structure, it’s $300,000,” City Manager Tuckett told the mayor and council.  

According to Karl Teemant, Community Services Director, lighting would cost an additional $50,000.

The total cost could be ameliorated with the City’s help in the project’s construction, added Mr Tuckett.

“We just wanted to get some direction,” Mr Tuckett told the council.  “This is kind of the way we’d like to see it go. I know we did adopt the PARC tax.  This is a project that we could apply for some PARC funds, but I don’t know if we could use total PARC funds here, because the estimate of what we bring in each year from the PARC fund is about $183,000, so that would take two years of this to get this done.  So maybe a combination of applying for some PARC tax money through the committee and coming back to the council then and trying to find some other revenues to finish up this park project. This was just a suggestion.”

PARC (Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture) funds are obtained from “local sales and use tax of 1/10 of 1% (1 cent for every $10.00 spent) to help fund recreational amenities and cultural arts facilities and organizations in Payson City,” according to the 2016 Voter Information Packet issued by the City prior to last year’s general election, an election that resulted in the tax’s approval by voters.

Councilman Mike Hardy remarked that there are other projects in the community that could use PARC funds as well and cautioned staff not to drain them for the proposed Memorial Park improvements.

Councilman Scott Phillips questioned whether pickleball had staying power in terms of its popularity, or if it is a fad due to fade away.  Councilman Doug Welton, a teacher, assured him from his experience traveling to college campuses with students that it is not a fad- that pickleball is popular at universities.

The sport originated in Washington State in 1965. Its courts are similar to those upon which doubles badminton is played. “They’re like mini-tennis courts,” Mr Zobell explained.

The game itself is a combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, and may involve two, three, or four players hitting a perforated polymer ball back and forth over the net using solid paddles made specifically for the sport.  Rather than the asphalt base on the current Memorial Park tennis courts, which have experienced cracking, a post-tension concrete will be used on pickleball courts, which city staff noted will last longer.

Councilwoman Linda Carter remarked, “I’ve played pickleball, and it is fun.”

“It’s been around forty years now,” Councilman Brian Hulet said.  He added that older people from local retirement communities will use it and he believes it is a good plan.

Having received direction from the council, Mr Tuckett remarked that city staff would look further into funding options for the project, then return with their findings.

Mr Tuckett noted also that the council has allocated funding for a new pavilion on the northwest side of the park, “to help with the Salmon Supper and things like that.  We’re going to try to get this done during this budget year.”

Payson To Hire Arborist To Assess Trees In Downtown

Pictured: A sign welcomes visitors to Historic Downtown Payson beneath a tree growing on the corner of First East and Utah Avenue. 

Payson City will hire an arborist to assess the condition of trees growing along Utah Avenue and Main Street in the Historic Downtown’s core.  They hope to determine which among them might be designated for removal, if not a deep trimming.  Find the complete story in this week's edition of The Payson Chronicle.

Congratulations To Our Local Teams

Tangled Up In The Web?

Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Services

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

TERRY LEE HANSEN

Terry Lee Hansen, of Payson, Utah, returned to his Father in Heaven on October 12, 2017. He had suffered complications after heart surgery.

He was born in Payson to Lee and Florence Terry Hansen on September 10, 1940.

He was raised in Spanish Fork and graduated from Spanish Fork High School.

Terry married the love of his life, Lodisa Ann Jones on December 30, 1960. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were married 56 years and raised two sons and one daughter.

Terry served and worked in the National Guard as a sharp shooter and a machinist for 12 years. He worked as a Machinist at Geneva Steel for 32 years. Terry served many years as treasurer for the steel workers union. He was a ham radio operator and loved to talk to people in many different countries. He was an avid golfer. Terry learned to play the synthetic organ and spent many hours sharing his music with family and friends.

He will be missed greatly by his entire family, including grand pups Tater and Aspen.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents.

Terry is survived by his wife, Ann Hansen; two sons: Terry (UnNo) Hansen and Tom (Debbie) Hansen, both of San Antonio, Texas; a daughter Andalynn (Kenny) Reynolds of Morton, Washington; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren; a brother Lynn (Kathy) McKell of Provo, Utah; several brother and sister in laws; and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life, in his honor, on Saturday, October 21st at 12:00, with a luncheon to follow at 1:00.  It will be held at the Mountain View 1st ward LDS chapel at 135 South 1100 East, Payson.

Tangled Up In The Web?

Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Services

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

Forthcoming funeral services are planned for the following friends from our community. Complete versions of these obituaries may also be found in The Payson Chronicle.

LEZLIE FOSTER HORSCHOUER

Lezlie Foster Hoschouer, Born July 17, 1944, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones on October 17, 2017. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Marilyn Dianne Hoschouer, his wife of 44 years. He is survived by their six children: Leah Lorton, Julianne Gidney (Daniel), Daniel Hoschouer (Kimberly), Karla Misner (Michael), Miriam Scott (David), John Hoschouer (Jennifer), 18 grandchildren, and one great grandson. Lezlie and Dianne were married in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 22, 1968. Lezlie dedicated his life to serving others, especially his family. He will be missed by those who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 11:00 am in the LDS Chapel located at 583 North 270 East, Tooele, UT.