Article About Michael

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/johnstown/stories/2009/03/28/0329jieaglescout_ln.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=104

Eagle Scout project will benefit the area's hungry
Saturday,  March 28, 2009 6:54 PM
By KIM GAREE
ThisWeek Contributor
Some Johnstown residents will find a grocery sack on their front porch Thursday.
Placing canned goods or non-perishable items in the bag and leaving it on the doorstep will both help feed area residents and help Johnstown-Monroe High School sophomore Michael Trauntvein become an Eagle Scout.
Trauntvein will go back around the community on Saturday morning, April 4, to gather the bags. He won't be knocking on residents' doors.
He hopes to collect a thousand pounds of food in a three-pronged drive to help the Food Pantry Network (FPN) of Licking County and the Johnstown Northridge Food Pantry stock their shelves. Phase One is the door-to-door bag drop in Johnstown, predominantly in the areas of Leafy Dell, Kyber Run and Concord Crossing.
The second phase will happen at JMHS, where Trauntvein will place boxes in each classroom and encourage students to bring in canned food. He has worked with Principal Kim Jakeway to offer a pizza party incentive, as well, for the class that brings in the most food.
A third phase will happen at his family's church in Granville, which is donating $500 worth of strawberry jam for FPN.
"It turns out they get a lot of peanut butter, but not a lot of jam to go with it," Trauntvein explained. "There will be about 18 of us from church taking the jam over, and we'll stay and stock shelves, clean the pantry, whatever they need us to do and then take a tour."
FPN of Licking County is affiliated with the Croton Church of Christ, which serves the Johnstown area on their behalf. In 2007, FPN served 700,000 individual meals to those in need.
"We rely on initiatives like this by groups, organizations and businesses in our community 100 percent," said FPN director Charles Moore.
Half of the donations collected in Johnstown will go to the Johnstown Food Pantry, Trauntvein said, and half to FPN.
"I figured they'd need help because of our nation's economic situation and the high unemployment rate," said Trauntvein. He started planning his project in October. He estimates he will log 90 to 100 hours by the time his project is complete.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is a natural progression for Trauntvein, who says the lessons he has learned in scouting will help him the rest of his life.
"It teaches you so many things, from physical training to a love of the outdoors," he said. "Mostly, it teaches you to be self-sufficient and self-motivated."
Trauntvein, the son of Todd and Amy Trauntvein, started in Cub Scouts at age 8. His family moved to Johnstown four years ago from Utah. He has served as Patrol Leader of his troop, Boy Scout Troop 4051 in Granville, and been to camp four times. Over his years of scouting, Trauntvein has earned 22 merit badges and was named to the prestigious Order of the Arrow two years ago.
Becoming an Eagle Scout requires not just the meeting of various scouting criteria but also a large-scale project like the one Trauntvein is doing for the food pantries and the people of Licking County.
"It will be great when it's over to see how many shelves we've filled at the storehouse, to see how we've been able to help," Trauntvein said.
"Michael's project is great because it gets kids involved, too, and helps build characteristics in them that we want our young people to have," Moore said. "We appreciate that hungry people in Licking County will be fed because of his project."
His parents say Michael has gained a sense of leadership and self-sufficiency, not just from scouting but from the Eagle project specifically.
"I think that's the thing about the Eagle project," Todd Trauntvein said. "It asks you, 'Okay, you've done all this stuff É now what have you really learned?'"
Trauntvein, who is in the honors program at JMHS, has other interests that include band, track and playing the piano, as well as video games and church activities. He hopes to attend Brigham Young University in Utah after graduation and possibly pursue a career in writing.
Trauntvein said he is grateful to everyone in the community who has already offered assistance and especially to Giant Eagle of New Albany for providing the grocery bags.

We Made It

Kirsten wrote: We got in around midnight, including a milk stop (so we could have breakfast this morning).

Loved seeing both of you, missed staying the night with you, though!

love,
kirsten

Myrna wrote: Judging from the storm we have been having today, it is a good thing you left when you did. The wind has been blowing and it has been snowing. I feel like there should be some poetic addition to that last sentence. I am glad you all got home safe and sound. I also enjoyed seeing all of you. The best laid plans of mice and men. . .



Love, M

Profs can put names to computer faces‏

Myrna wrote: Guess what I read? I thought this was really interesting. I am only sending the first couple of paragraphs but you can check the rest of the article out if you like.

Yale Daily News
Published: Friday, March 30, 2001
Profs can put names to computer faces
By Anahad O'Connor
YDN Staff Reporter

The next time you fall asleep or make a comment in a big lecture course, be warned: You may not be just another face in the crowd to your professor.

Starting next semester, Yale professors will be able to access identification photographs of students enrolled in their courses. The student identification photos used in online and print facebooks will be made  available to Yale faculty in the fall of 2001 in customized databases available only to professors.


Siovhan wrote: BYU professors already get photo directories they can access at any time. It made falling asleep in class a dangerous game.

Siovhan


Ann  Olsen wrote: Amazing!  So interesting to read about!

    Ann

To Raymond and Karen Smith

Myrna wrote:

I received a note and an obituary from Gordon concerning the death of your beautiful and young daughter, Melissa. I wanted to offer the sympathy of Leonard and I. We will keep you and your family in our prayers.

I noted in the obituary that she still had a very young son. As grandparents ourselves, I know that you have a concern for your grandson. I am certain that he will need your love and support for many years to come. I am also certain that you will be guided in your decision-making.

What great people you are. I am so thankful that you provided such a good home for Melissa and were such loving parents to her. I am ever thankful for my grandmother who did the same for me.

May our Father in Heaven's blessings be with you.

Love, Myrna and Leonard

Gordon, this is what I sent. Did you send flowers?‏


Gordon wrote: We didn't send flowers, but we went to the funeral.

I'm sure they appreciated your email.  That was very nice.

Thank You,

Gordon and Roberta

Helen--Hi, again!

Helen wrote:

Sorry to send you to responses to your e-mail- I sent the first one and it didn't send, according to the screen, so rewrote. When I sent the 2nd one and it was into the sent page the first one was also there. Oh Well, repetition brings conviction. Right??? of course right from Fiddler on the Roof. Love Helen

Myrna wrote:

At least we know you care! I have this happen to me quite frequently so i know just what you mean. Love, M

Hey Grandma!

Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:08:25 -0600
From Brigitta Rae

Hey I have a blog post you should read. It is a movie review I have pasted it below...tada

If any of you have seen the film "The Boy In Stripped Pajamas", you recognized the upfront characterization lacking depth and motive, the slightly shaky feel during the running scene and the long, tedious building-up-to-the-point. I was ready to write the film off as "A last minute heart throb" until my someone brought something to my attention.

"You know, that's not all that different than what we went through...the pioneers."

And now the movie has become a testament to me of the simple view we should all take of the world. Mind if I endarken you? I feel a rant coming on... Oh heck, it's my blog! I can do as I will.

This is what drives me away from churches, schools, congregations and even countries. The whole, "Well, we're not so different" act. It's not about Jews, Mormons, Germans or even Governments, it's about people. These are humans, just as you and I (I'm sorry we can't include you in this bob...whatever you are.).  I don't care what this movie was meant to say, what point they were trying to get across, but it shone to me as a penlight in fog.

This point is an everlasting struggle between religions, especially the Mormons and the Jews. I have nothing against the following quotes, for it is in fact my religion, but I just have an opposed opinion when it comes to this war; the stupid war over the persecuted church. It says in the bible that the church will be persecuted like none other. Well, the Jews seem to uphold that they are that most persecuted. (And seriously, who could blame them.) So, the Mormons feels a need to come back and say, "Look at our pioneers!". Even in the most recent of LDS church announcements, one speaker can be quoted saying "...ask the Mormons..." in reference to a Jewish Rabbi asking an acclaimed archaeologist about the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. WHY THIS WAR!? Why can't you accept that these are all Gods people? That it makes no difference who they are or what they belong to! Why are the first words to come out of your mouth, "Look at us"? I don't understand how anyone could be that heartless and so without understanding. The point is not to haggle about beliefs, it's to show what has happened to us, why it happened to us...THE POINT IS TO UNDERSTAND that this shouldn't happen again, that this is all mans sin, we were all persecuted in the Holocaust and we were all persecuters! Every group and individual should be coming to the conclusion that at anytime someone could decide you weren't fit to live. This is no badge of honor, even for the people who lived through it. It is a showing of mans iniquity, not Adams, yours. Even in saying this I feel hypocritical. I know there is so much more I could be doing to help those around me. To prove my love for all man, no matter what sect. But the cowardliness of my own heart drives me into the background to mingle with the other foreshadowed values of my person and I am ashamed.

This movie shows the innocence of a boy and the understanding of the pure. All men were created equal and man only cared if he was, not that all should. This film is the song of my faith and my testimony of peace. I only wish that either others can see as I or that in my wrong I can be enlightened.

-Brigitta Rae

--
The definition of an editor is a person who knows a great deal about very
little and who goes on learning more and more about less and less, until
finally he or she knows practically everything about nothing.

To: Brigitta Rae from Myrna Rae

I enjoyed reading your comments. Grandpa called me and told me that you had watched the DVD and how moved he was. I guess I need to check it out. I am impressed with your writing. You do a good job of getting your thoughts across and making people stop and consider your viewpoint. Love, Grammy

About Waite Break

Myrna wrote: Kirsten, I think Dad had your vacation time wrong in his head. He is up at Shawn's this week until Wednesday. He and Dane and Brigitta drove up this a.m. That means that we will be home all next week so we could enjoy your company. He actually thought that you were coming last Friday and was surprised when we got home from the temple and you were not here. It was then that I figured out that he did not have it right so we can spend all of the week with you when you have Spring Break. I hope you haven't made other plans.

Love, M

Kirsten wrote: No, it is this week.  But when he told me about the schedule for this week, we decided to make a trip up to see Anna (in ID) for the first part of the week, then come down to Nephi next weekend when you guys would be around.  So, that's where we are.  We used Friday to play catchup at our house and left late Saturday night.  We'll be here until Frid am.  We'll drive to Am's and stay there for the night and go to the baptism.  We were thinking of taking the kids bowling on campus after the baptism then heading down to Nephi.  If you don't mind, we'd love to stay the night and probably hit sacrament meeting with you then head back for home (so we don't get back too late).  We'll be out again in the summer, so I wasn't too stressed about Dad helping out in Layton this week.  Plus, you still have the great pleasure of taking our kids off our hands for two weeks in May.  ;)

So, sorry for the miscommunication, but we'll see you this weekend.  

Love, 
Kirsten

A Big Thank You!!

Dearest Hon and Sster:It is raining heavy at this night hour and the cloudys are lowering over Mt. Olympus-  by morn there will be snow to be sure.

Hope you folks enjoyed the Sabbath and the opportunity to attend the Draper Temple Dedication. I think it is marvelous and probably completely exhausting for President Monson to preside over 12 such services in 3 days.

Want to let you know and thank you again for your thoughtfulness in bringing me a handky from the Denmark Temple Dedication. I have about 4-5 handkies I considered using ( all white)  the one I used is the one you folks gave me .
It seemed very appropriate to me.

Have a good week. Love Helen


Myrna wrote: You are such a sweetheart! We love you.

Today the sky is gray, the clouds are heavy and it is snowing. We ended up meeting as two stakes together last night for the televised dedication. We were having such heavy winds here and our stake's satellite was moving so much that the signal could not be maintained. We all moved up to the North Stake Center. Of course, with more than 2,500 people, it was very crowded but we did have the spirit there and it was great.

Love, M

Raymond and Karen's Daughter Death‏

Raymond is Pearle and Fred Smith's youngest child and the brother of Gordon Smith.

Gordon  Smith wrote: Dear Family,
We are sending you the obituary for Raymond & Karen's daughter, Melissa, and Raymond's email address, if you desire to send a note of condolence to them.  The obit. was in the Daily News of Blackfoot, Idaho,
today.  Her service is Monday.  We are going up to support them.
Love ya, dad and mom.

RymndKar@aol.com

BLACKFOOT — Melissa Dene Gallegos, 37, the daughter of Raymond and Karen Smith of Blackfoot, died peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2009 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Melissa Dene
Gallegos, 37
BLACKFOOT — Melissa Dene Gallegos, 37, the daughter of Raymond and Karen Smith of Blackfoot, died peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2009 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Melissa was born May 24, 1971 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Darla Dene Jensen and Gordon Walter Snow.  She moved to Blackfoot when she was 9 months old to live with her aunt and uncle, Raymond and Karen Smith, who raised her to adulthood.  Melissa attended school in Blackfoot, graduating from Blackfoot High School in 1989.  She made friends easily and was a loyal and loving friend to many.
Melissa married Michael Gallegos in 1987.  They were later divorced but have remained good friends.
Melissa worked for many years as a waitress at Martha’s Café in Blackfoot and later at Oakridge Convenience Store.  She lived for a short period of time in Pocatello and Montpelier but later returned to live in Blackfoot.  Melissa was a good worker and always gave full measure to her employers.
Melissa’s crowning glory was her three sons, Tason, Adrian and Logan.  She loved them fiercely and they were her life.
Melissa is survived by her parents, Raymond & Karen Smith of Blackfoot; her father, Gordon Snow of LaVerkin, UT; her children, Tason Gallegos, 21, of Salt Lake City, UT; Adrian Jimenez, 18,  and Logan Smith, 12, both of Blackfoot; her brothers, Wade Smith of Lake City, FL, Bryant Smith of Gypsum, CO; sisters Susan (Layne) Anderson and Stacy Smith, both of Blackfoot; brothers, Gordon Snow and Frank Woolsey, both of Salt Lake City, UT; brother, Jerry Diat and sister, Holly Diat; brothers Darren, Eric and Jon Hardman, all of Springville, UT and sister, Leslie Nielsen of Spanish Fork, UT.  Also surviving are many aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She will be dearly missed by her entire family.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Darla, an infant daughter, Angela Karen Jimenez, and her grandparents.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, 2009, at Hawker Funeral Home. The family will meet with friends and relatives from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the funeral home and again for one hour prior to service. Interment will be in the Grove City Cemetery.


Myrna wrote: Thanks for keeping me in the loop. She was so young. Did she have cancer? That is the worry we all have that our youngsters will die before we do. She certainly was a beautiful woman. What will become of the youngest--the 12 year old? Will Raymond and Karen give him a home? Love, M


Hi Myrna, Melissa had health problems for a long time.  All that is known is that she died in her sleep.

The services were very nice, with a great attendance and support.  It was good to see Karen & Raymond's family, they are so scattered we never see them, just hear about their activities.  Bryan conducted the services, he is or has been a Branch President, and he did very well.  The services were
family oriented and family participants.  Monte and Wynette drove up there from Ioka (Roosevelt).  It was so good to see them too.  Wynette said she saw you at Suzanne Farrer's mothers services in Nephi.  That was a pleasant surprise for her.  As for the boys, the oldest is living in Salt Lake and attending the Community college there, Adrien will graduate this year from high school and will have to decide what he
desires to do, and Logan, the 12 year old has been invited to live with his father and his family, so that is where it stands.  Raymond and Karen's door is open to give them love and support, a place to live, or whatever their needs are.  They have given the boys great support in a myriad of ways up to this point.  They have been given a good foundation, now their agency will have to step in.  Worries and concerns never end.    

Hope all is well at your home, we enjoy your emails.  Gordon tells me about them, and sometimes I get to read them.  My computer skills are terrible, as you can see.  Love, Gordon & Roberta

Hi, Again from Helen

Sorry to send you to responses to your e-mail- I sent the first one and it didn't send, according to the screen, so rewrote. When I sent the 2nd one and it was into the sent page the first one was also there. Oh Well, repetition brings conviction. Right??? of course right from Fiddler on the Roof. Love Helen