A business license was approved for John J. Lucas for a home business involving sale of family hobby kits and framed squares. The city has received letters from both sides of the question of opening meetings with prayer, with the atheists asking that prayers at city meetings cease. The problem of the city receiving sales tax which it should remains a concern, inasmuch as the revenue which runs the city comes from this tax. The method of distribution by the state to the proper entities can result in loss of income. At the January 14, 2004, planning commission meeting, Les Syme was selected as commission chair for 2004, and Kent Meyerhoffer will serve as vice-chair. The last of a four-part series on emergency preparedness appeared in the January issue of The Pioneer Post. Specific information on water and food storage was given to help residents with personal preparedness. The Neighborhood Watch and Sheriff's Advisory Committee meet quarterly concerning safety in our community. At the January meeting, Deputy Gary Worthen, resource officer at Fremont High School, spoke about gang awareness and school safety. He advised that parents should (1) know the friends of your child, (2) be active in the life of your child by attending parent-teacher conferences and school activities, (3) know your child's grades and assist with homework when possible, (4) be aware of the types of gang clothing sometimes worn by young people, and (5) watch for sudden changes in your child's demeanor and lingo. Crime statistics reported since October 2003 were provided by Deputy Mark Lowther. A basic overview is: theft/larceny, 7; vehicle burglaries, 19; traffic citations, 247; burglaries, 3, and traffic accidents 44. (And we thought we lived in a quiet, safe neighborhood.) An interesting event occurred at 700 South and I-15 on January 6, when a fugitive, Brian Wood, wanted in an attempted homicide, was taken into custody by members of the Utah Highway Patrol and the Weber County Sheriff's Department. Clearfield police, acting on a tip, spotted him at the Flying J station in Farr West. Mr. Wood fled south on I-15, attaining speeds of 85 miles per hour with the police in pursuit. He shot at the police as he led the five mile chase. He fired at a truck being driven by Layton resident Frank Dawson, hitting the vehicle three times. Spikes were placed on the road, which deflated his tires, and, once off the road, he was immediately surrounded and detained. He was transported to a hospital with a head wound, and faced numerous additional charges upon his release. The January 2, 2004. issue of the Weber Sentinel reported on the ever-pressing issue of growth in Marriott-Slaterville. Joyce Van Tassell interviewed Mayor Butler, recently elected councilman Scott VanLeeuwen, Bill Morris, City Administrator, and resident Pam Slater. All gave the same basic message: we want to keep our city much as it is, but growth is inevitable. Balancing people's rights to use their own land as desired, and still keep our area rural and open is a difficult balance, hopefully to be achieved by using the city plan developed at incorporation. Present growth has been about 3% per year, or 4 or 5 homes. The ensuing year will probably see a faster rate, as developers are currently requesting approval of about 50 new homes, according to Mr. VanLeeuwen. Rivers and streams enhance our community, but our low lying location causes more storm water issues than many communities face. We are part of the 100-year flood plain of the Weber River, as many of our older residents well know from seeing past floods. Some areas have been zoned agricultural to keep homes from being built in places where they would be inundated in high water periods. Competing interests exist where residential areas border commercially zoned areas. Yes, there are many problems concerning growth; we are fortunate to have good individuals, both elected and appointed, who are watching carefully for the interests of residents. Bits and Pieces Afton Pattillo, daughter of Jeremy and Lynette Pattillo, was born January 11, 2004. Helen M. Slater, age 88, died January 11, 2004.