A Gaggle of Great Grandchildren

On Valentines Day of this year, Isabelle Oveson had a total of six great grandchildren, three months later just before Memorial Day, she had 11.

It was a fun and exciting three months; she didn’t know which of her five granddaughters was going to deliver next. It has been quite the task to get all five of the new little ones together; some in Colorado and in Idaho and others close by in Carbon and Emery counties. Her great grandchildren call her Grandma Great and great she is, she loves and dotes on them whenever she can get her hands on them. Her husband, Valdean, passed away in 1999 and they didn’t have any great grandchildren at the time, but soon after, her first great was born and up to now, they have all been treasures to her. Isabelle says that she had to put up with her five children just so she could get her 11 grandchildren. But she says that the great grandkids have all been extra bonuses in her life.

Isabelle has lived in and loved Emery County for all of her 79 years. She loves cooking (and is a great cook), especially when she can use her Dutch ovens and has put together a couple of Dutch oven recipe books that she shares with family and friends. She also collects salt and pepper shakers, of which she has about eighty sets; she has already warned the family that she wants to stop at 100 sets as she will be out of room for more. She has mastered email so she can keep in touch with far away family and friends and she also talks to her three siblings - Marie (Price), Emery and Fred (Alabama) at least once every week.

All who know Isabelle knows that family comes first. She still has the upper hand on the entire family and is the driving force of getting the whole group together at least three times a year. The spring desert trip is anxiously awaited each year after the long winter; it has grown into a group of immediate and extended families with lots of food and fun. She also makes sure that everyone gets in a mountain camping trip during the summer, and she has her Christmas party that everyone in the family loves to gather for. Isabelle’s love and sense of importance of family came from her parents, Louis and Louise Durand and siblings and has influenced her children and grandchildren; she has instilled loyalty, trust, humor, integrity and the inevitable love of family in them all.

Soccer in Full Swing in Green River

Mary Wilmarth

For the fifth year in a row the playing fields are full of excited soccer players in Green River.
There are more than 50 kids signed up for Green River AYSO Soccer this year, and more are expected. This is very gratifying to Phyllis Silliman, the Regional Commissioner. Organizing and recruiting coaches, referees, and players is a big job, but very rewarding.

Jerseys and socks are recycled from year to year and parents are encouraged to donate outgrown shin guards, cleats and shorts. Each season SCORE, an AYSO affiliate, provides balls, additional shin guards and other equipment necessary to safe play. There is a $20 fee for each player; however some scholarships are available from the Green River Boys and Girls Club. Team parents are very supportive and they provide drinks and snacks for practices and games. If there are any uniforms left at your house from past seasons, please return them to help keep costs down.

Phyllis has a strong and supportive board. Assistant Commissioner, Lisa Silliman; Safety Administrator, Mike Davis; Children’s Volunteer Protection Advocate Mike Silliman; Treasurer Misty Bastian; Secretary Cindy McFarland; Coach Administrator Amy Wilmarth; Referee Administrator, Andrea Silliman, and Zina Willard, Registrar. Volunteer Brent Pace prepares the fields each season, and Emery County Recreation built the goals

John Corrigan coaches one of the older teams and sees that these kids are showing progress. Most have been enrolled from the beginning and are developing the skills and the hustle to put on a pretty good show. The younger ones are trying to emulate big sister or brother, to learn teamwork and dependability, and the basics of dribble and shoot.

Thanks to all the coaches Janiece Pfander, Michelle and John Corrigan, and Brian Meadows; the Referees Andrea Silliman, MacKay Thayn, Kenny Silliman, Linsey Gestler, and Danielle Monroe; and all the parents and other community members who help with the fields, and other needs.

Golfers Join Green River Community to Support Fund Raiser

Annalee Thayn

Oct. 6 was a sunny day with white clouds in the blue sky day and only a slight breeze. A perfect day for a Golf Scramble, Hole Challenges, and Silent Auction to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Green River and the families of the men who lost their lives in Crandall Canyon Mine.

The proceeds will be equally divided between these two causes. Nearly four-dozen sponsors participated in this event from Green River and surrounding communities.

The Boys and Girls Club is an organization for all youth between the ages of 7-18. The goal is to help the club members reach their full potential, as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The money raised may go to a variety of activities. This fall some will be used for the soccer program. It also provides scholarships so all children can participate.

On an average day 22-25 children participate in club activities. In the summer that number can go as high as 40. These kids are all served meals at the Kid’s Café in the Community Center.
Nine teams of four members each competed in the Golf Scramble. Each team paid $200 to participate.

Winners were:1st place, Johansen and Tuttle, 2nd place, Banasky Insurance, and 3rd place went to Tyler Bastian’s team made up of Tyler Bastian, Roy Pfander, Hayden Pfander, and Dave Maggio. Winners in the other contests were: Rick Adams; longest drive: Ty Mecham, the longest putt; and Andy Anderson, putt closest to the hole.

One of the biggest items available in the silent auction was a Golf Getaway Vacation. Charlotte Uptain was the winning bidder of this item, which included meals, lodging, and a chance to play golf at five different golf courses.

Kam Weihing, was master of ceremonies for the event and lunch was provided courtesy of Chevron and Subway.