NY Times Weighs in on Utah Mine Disaster

New York Times editorial: “The tales of regulatory negligence by the Bush administration never seem to end. An investigation into the death of six coal miners and three would-be rescuers last summer in Utah faults the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration for failing to properly oversee the high-risk mining technique that led to the collapse of the Crandall Canyon Mine.” The editorial blasts the Bush administration for having a “patronage-driven penchant for appointing industry executives to regulate their own industry…” (See related Tribune editorial).

Join List of Fast-Growth Firms

EDCUtah has posted its latest newsletter online. The economic development organization says it has partnered with Inc. magazine and is encouraging Utah's high-growth companies to apply for membership in the Inc. 5,000--the elite list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. EDCUtah says 71 Utah companies made the list last year, two made the Inc. 500 list, and the Provo-Orem metro area is the leader for the most Inc. 500 companies per million residents. Deadline to apply is April 30, 2008. Read more here.

Today in Political History

April 4, 1949:  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty is signed by 12 nations.

April 4, 1968: Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.,39, is assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.  (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Wise Words

“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”

-- Benjamin Franklin  (Source:  Quote Garden) 

Utah History

The Gentile Capital of Utah

For some 10 years after its founding in March, 1869, the town of Corinne reigned as "The Gentile Capital of Utah." As the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads approached their historic meeting place at Promontory Summit early in 1869, a group of former Union army officers and some determined non-Mormon merchants from Salt Lake City decided to locate a gentile town on the Union Pacific line, believing that the town could compete economically and politically with the Saints of Utah. They chose a location about six miles west of Brigham City on the west bank of the Bear River where the railroad crossed that stream. Named by one of the founders (General J.A. Williamson) for his 14-year-old daughter, Corinne was designed to be the freight-transfer point for the shipment of goods and supplies to the mining towns of western Montana along the Montana Trail.

In its heyday, Corinne had about 1,000 permanent residents, not one of whom was a Mormon, according to the boast of the local newspaper. Corinne reflected a very different atmosphere and culture from the staid and quiet Mormon settlements of Utah, nurturing 15 saloons and 16 liquor stores, with a gun-fighting town marshal keeping order in this "Dodge City" of Utah. The permanent residents of Corinne did their best to promote a sense of community pride and peaceful  cultural pursuits, but had a raucous and independent clientele of freighters and stagecoachers to control.

With some support from political leaders in the nation's capital and from eastern newspapers, the town fathers attempted to use their position as a Gentile city to break the political and economic monopoly held by the Mormons in Utah Territory. They sought to have J. A. Williamson named territorial governor; tried to have the northern one degree of latitude of Utah added to Idaho so as to dismember the territory; and attempted to have Corinne named as the capital of Utah. The citizens of Corinne failed in each case to achieve their wishes, but it was not for lack of trying--their leaders and newssheets bombarded Washington, D.C., for help in their fight as they blasted Brigham Young and the Mormon hierarchy. The Saints had no difficulty in this unequal fight, even awarding the ballot to Utah women to ensure maintenance of political control of the territory. (Source:  Utah Edu) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- ABC News: Hillary Clinton denies telling Bill Richardson that Barack Obama "cannot win" a general election against John McCain.

-- Politico: Nancy Pelosi warns Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker "not to 'put a shine on recent events' in Iraq when they testify before Congress next week."
 
-- New York Sun editorial: Petraeus' appearance before Congress "will be an opportunity for Americans to compare Senators Clinton and McCain, both of whom sit on the committee to which General Petraeus will testify, and Senator Obama, who can be counted on to point out that he was against the war all along.

-- The Hill: House Minority Leader John Boehner predicts "that Republicans will pick up seats in the 2008 election despite a slew of GOP retirements and the Democrats' significant fundraising advantage."

Blog Watch

-- At Out of Context, Dan Harrie reports: "We're going to get a chance to see if the gun lobby is as powerful in Utah politics as some claim. The Gun Owners of Utah (GoUtah!) has come out in opposition to Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble and Rep. Steve Urquhart, who is running for an open Senate seat. In an email alert, the organization describes the two, who are generally considered conservative, as 'ringleaders against gun rights.' The issue at hand was a bill -- HB473 -- that sought to codify that citizens can legally pack a gun on their hip (open carry) with or without a concealed carry permit. Urquhart pushed an amendment to exempt universities from the bill. The amendment passed in the House but then the bill was killed in the Senate. GoUtah! is furious at the two and wants to exact some electoral revenge, encouraging people who are delegates to vote against the pair at convention and to donate to their challengers. They don't predict they can defeat the two but say they hope to at least inflict some 'political pain' on them. 'For example, if you can help force Mr. Urquhart and Mr. Bramble into primary races, they'll think twice before opposing gun rights in the future, even if they get re-elected.' Man, if the gun-rights folks can force these two into a primary, they are some force to be reckoned with. But don't bet your legislative commemorative Glock on it."

Lighter Side

“I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons.”

—Will Rogers (Patriot Post) 

Casual Friday

Fishing Report

By Dave Webb

Otter Creek Reservoir was good to me last weekend, with consistent action for nice rainbows. Tried Piute Reservoir in the afternoon and found slower action there. See my article and photos.  

Minersville is fishing well with open water. (Remember the special regulations there.) Deer Creek has enough open water to launch a float tube, and trout are biting. It should be completely open within a few days.

Lake Powell striper fishing is heating up near the dam. Wayne Gustaveson reports: "There was a bunch of successful anglers filleting stripers at the Wahweap fish cleaning station this afternoon. Looks like the biggest catch of the year so far. Two groups appeared to have close to 100 each. Fish were in good condition."

Provo River flows are up, making fishing a little more difficult but still pretty good. Midge and blue wing olives are hatching during the middle of the day. Sowbugs work on the bottom when dry fly action slows. Success is better on cloudy days.

Green River conditions are similar, with decent fishing on cloudy days. Action will improve greatly on all of our streams during the next couple weeks. Expect the Provo and Green to be packed on weekends. We have great how-to articles on fishing the Green and the Provo.

Outdoors Report

-- Hit the slopes before the resorts close in the Morning News
-- Tribune wards off golf injuries
-- Morning News finds ideal conditions for visiting national parks in the spring and fall
-- Get informed before collecting on public land in the Tribune
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes

-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook  and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week

-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

New Films

-- Leatherheads:  Tribune review

-- Nim’s Island:  Tribune review

Concerts

-- Adrian Maxson Memorial Concert, WSU Department of Performing Arts and the WSU Chapter of Amnesty International, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, WSU, donations will be accepted
-- “Legend of Timpanogos,” Utah Regional Ballet, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center St., Provo, $16-$20
-- Salt Lake Community College Company, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., SLCC Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State St., $8, $4 with donation of two non-perishable food items for the Utah Food Bank (957-3322)
-- 2008 Annual International Fest, world dance and music, Saturday, 6 p.m., Dolores Dore Eccles Health, Wellness and Athletic Center, Westminster College, 1840 S. 1300 East
-- Brian Booth and Kevin Stout, jazz, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College, 1840 S. 1300 East, $12
-- “Bach and Beyond: The Music of Leipzig,” Sunday, 8 p.m., Cathedral of the Madeleine
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall

Theater

-- “Cabaret” through April 5, Egyptian Theatre Company, Park City
-- “She Loves Me” through April 5, Hale Center Theater Orem

-- “The Sound of Music” through April 11, Terrace Plaza Playhouse

-- “The Eyes of Babylon” through April 19, Rose Wagner Theatre

-- “Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy” through April 19, Children’s Theatre & School of the Arts

-- “The Clean House” through April 27, Salt Lake Acting Company

-- “Pirates of Penzance” through May 3, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “The Wizard of Odd” through June 7, Desert Star Playhouse

Museum Exhibits

-- Natural Revelations: Paintings by Susan Swartz Exhibition through April 13, Utah Museum of Fine Arts

-- Teapots: Object to Subject Exhibition through May 25, Kimball Art Center, Park City

-- Masterworks of Victorian Art From the Collection of John H. Schaeffer Exhibition through August 18; Minerva Teichert:  Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art

-- Wayne Thiebaud: 70 Years of Painting Exhibition through July 27, Springville Museum of Art

Et Cetera

-- First Friday Art Stroll, Friday 6 – 9 p.m., downtown Ogden
-- Alta Spring Festival, through April 6
-- The Canyons Spring Gruv, through April 6, Park City