Anita Kersey

OGDEN — Most of us need help at one time or other with our lawns and gardens, and there’s no better place to go for help than the Ogden Botanical Gardens, 1750 Monroe Blvd.

Manager Dori Jones says people call their office all the time in need of advice or help.

“I feel very blessed to have a job that I love and get to help people by answering their plant questions,” Jones said. “I get to create beautiful, relaxing landscapes and use my talent to help others feel peace in a hectic world.”

HOOPER — Sam, a red heeler, is the 2012 Grand Champion of the Hooper Tomato Days dog races, held at the Hooper Park rodeo arena. He won first place in the medium dog division and then went on to win the overall spot, netting his owner a $100 first prize.

This year’s excitement grew as 127 dogs of all sizes, shapes and breeds lined up at the gate, where their owners paid their $3 registration fee. Then dogs and owners walked through and on to the holding area, awaiting their turn to take off.

CLINTON — Maria Hyer is studying to be a nurse, but one of her great passions in life is creating her own form of cartoon artistry. “My mother says I’ve been an artist ever since I could grab a crayon and write on the wall,” the 21-year-old says.

Hyer was displaying her artistic skills Friday, using sidewalk chalk on concrete at the Clinton Heritage Days celebration.

HOOPER — The people — at least some of them — have spoken, so Hooper Park will remain Hooper Park.

Several people attended a recent city council meeting to let council members know they do not want the name of the city’s oldest park changed.

After hearing the residents’ objections and being presented with about 200 names on petitions, the council unanimously voted to forgo the idea of changing the park’s name to Reagan Park to commemorate President Ronald Reagan’s visit to Hooper on Sept. 10, 1982.

CLINTON — The Steed Park Toddler Balance Bike Race in Clearfield drew plenty of attention from parents and bystanders, as little tykes on little bikes raced along the pathway.

These weren’t any ordinary kids on ordinary bikes. These were toddlers, ages 21 months to 4 years, on their balance bikes — all rolling along and being coached by their instructor, Meg Hawks.

Hawks is a representative of Strider, which is introducing balance bikes to parents as a way to teach kids how to ride bikes almost as soon as they learn to walk. Hawks holds clinics to introduce the bike and teach the kids how to use them.

CLINTON — It’s official: The old 25-foot-tall Centennial Bank sign at 1750 W. 1800 North is coming down, according to a decision made by the city council.

HOOPER — Hooper has reinstated salaries for city council members, but not everyone is happy about it.