Kirt’s Drive-In, a fixture in North Ogden for decades, was hopping on April 15th and it had nothing to do with filing taxes or even a belated April Fool’s prank. Dozens of teenagers stepped to the counter to order burgers, fries, and, oh yes, a tasty milkshake! Teens were being treated to some delicious food by none other than Utah’s U.S. Senator Mike Lee. He and staff members met the Pleasant View City Junior Council and North Ogden City Junior Council members at 5PM and they all “chowed down” – Yumm! Ryan Wilcox, the senator’s new Northern Utah director and former State legislator, arranged the event; and it was well received.
Advisors from both youth councils accompanied their charges and joined in the fun. Senator Lee blended right in talking to the youth and advisors and sitting at a booth to enjoy a burger. Some thirty to forty people were packed in the indoor dining area and conversations were punctuated with laughter and joyful noise. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor mingled and talked with everyone.
A brief message was delivered by Senator Lee relating to how the next generation can be part of the solution by being active in their community and by knowing how government is supposed to work. He opened the meeting up for questions and the students responded, asking about immigration and other national issues. He was also asked what his favorite color is—red or blue—which was correctly perceived as a university-loyalty question. The Senator remains “true blue.”
A question about music was interesting; he named a few of his favorite groups, then related a story about his son John, who had been listening to music that the Senator noticed had very raunchy lyrics. He asked his son why he listened to such trash. “Oh”, said John, “it’s not so bad if you don’t think about it.” Lee thought that could apply to certain goings on in Washington—such as the National debt, which isn’t so bad if you don’t think about it; or the IRS scandals, or the Middle East and many other troubling situations—all are not so bad if you don’t think about it. He urged everyone to “think about it,” and then to be involved and take ownership of our Constitution and American values.
By 6PM it was time for the Senator and his staff to drive to their next meeting at Ogden High. They had made stops in Davis County before coming to North Ogden. A group photo outside under the “Kirt’s” sign was taken and the venture was over. A “straw poll” determined that the favorite was “mint shake.” Members of the youth councils will remember their time with the Senator at Kirt’s Drive-In and so will Senator Lee.
