Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

OGDEN -- Several hundred Soldiers serving in Afghanistan will have a brighter holiday season, thanks to local donors in the Top of Utah.

Employees at Myers Mortuary, in conjunction with Operation Adopt a Ghost, spent the better part of Tuesday morning filling stockings full of candy, toiletries, books, crossword puzzles, hand warmers, nuts, socks, jerky, DVDs and other items to ship overseas in time for Christmas.

What began with the discovery of some World War II dog tags in the West Desert has led a Top of Utah father/son duo to a startling mystery, a historical investigation -- and a new longdistance friend.

It all began when Tim L. Kutz, 58, of Clearfield, was working with the military at an airfield near Wendover. His manager found the dog tags and showed them to Kutz.

"It looked like an Army Air Corps dog tag. It had an 'H' for religion," Kutz said. "I didn't know what that meant and I was curious."

CLEARFIELD -- Students at Clearfield High School are getting hands-on experience in repairing airplanes at Hill Aerospace Museum as part of an aeronautical mechanics course.

On Nov. 27, a small group of students lined up around a C-7 Caribou that was damaged during a windstorm last year.

Using a hydraulic lift, several students were lifted to the plane's rudder to assess what tools were needed to remove it.

Museum Curator Nathan Myers said the rudder was anything but stable, with countless dents and rope strapping it onto the airplane.

OGDEN -- It was a disappointing home stand for the Ogden Mustangs as they dropped a 1-2 series to the visiting Seattle Totems with all three games at the Weber County Ice during the Veterans Day weekend, ending in shootouts.

Seattle captain Connor Haney logged five goals over the series and goalie Bryce Fink picked up a pair of wins with shootout stands on Saturday night and Sunday in a Western States Hockey League Northwest Division battle.

KAYSVILLE -- Woven into his story of dropping "candy bombs" to the children of war-torn Germany is a message of service, hope and gratitude.

Retired Air Force Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, 91, visited Samuel Morgan Elementary School to re-enact how he became known as the "Candy Bomber" during the Berlin Airlift following World War II.

OGDEN -- Grand Junction Rockies center fielder David Dahl, who put on a show with a homer and double in an Aug. 9 win over the Ogden Raptors, is considered by some to be the best prospect in the Pioneer League.

But on Aug. 12, it was Raptors shortstop Corey Seager's turn to show off and prove that he, too, belongs in any conversation about the league's most promising players.

An expert climbing trainer had just warned his wife to be careful on their icy driveway. Then he walked out and promptly slipped himself.

After falling on the icy patch in February, Bill Walford found himself literally grounded.

He couldn't stand up straight and could barely move his legs to walk.

An administrator at Hill Air Force Base and former Marine. Walford had stayed in shape teaching wall climbing on base, climbing an average of 1,500 vertical feet per week.

CLEARFIELD -- The Dilley family got an early Christmas surprise when they were told they were the grandprize winners of a $20,000 home repair contest.

Tyrena Dilley, of Clearfield, was told of her family's winning this week during a news conference at The Home Depot in Salt Lake City.

Dilley's husband, Staff Sgt. Kevin Dilley, is in Greenland until July serving a one-year tour.

The couple are the winners of the store's Give the Gift of Good contest. They were one of nine military families nominated for the contest, which was held on Facebook.

EDEN -- Sitting on a black leather chair in the basement of Wolf Creek Resort, Air Force Master Sgt. Aaron Agner reads "Where The Sidewalk Ends" into a video camera.

The book was one of his childhood favorites. He hopes his four children will love it as much as he did.

"I'm going to read four different poems based on each of their personalities," he said. "I think it's a great way to link us together."

CLEARFIELD -- While U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Dilley is away serving his country, his wife Tyrena is home with their five children in a house with a malfunctioning heater, no air conditioning, no insulation in the walls, broken windows and a roof ready to flood the home in any rainfall.

You can help them with a click of your mouse.