Riggs Drops Legislative Bid
Robin Riggs, vice president and general counsel for the Salt Lake Chamber, has announced he is withdrawing from the House District 48 race, citing personal and family concerns.
In a letter to delegates and supporters, Riggs said the campaign “has been a tremendous learning experience. I have greatly appreciated the friends and supporters who stepped forward and gave of their time and resources to this race. Those supporters are also the reason this decision was difficult to make. But I know this is the right decision.”
He said he will continue to work in the public policy arena through his job at the Chamber. He encouraged support for Republican candidate Sylvia Andersen in District 48. “She and I have talked and we agree on most of the issues,” Riggs said. “She will be a great asset to the Legislature.”
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Pete Knudson says: "If reform advocates continue to educate, and budget surpluses continue, maybe the vision will catch on and we'll be able to reform the tax system next year"... The Park Record Blog asks: "Saturday is the 30th anniversary of Earth Day. Have we made much [environmental] progress -- locally? globally?"... Mike Ridgway takes issue with Paul Rolly column... Part of the Plan says Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett are helping the Bush Admin. shortchange of military veterans... Wilf Sommerkorn observes: "The business community asking for higher taxes? Did you think you'd ever see the day? Apparently that is exactly what is happening, as the Salt Lake Chamber starts a campaign to find more money to pay for transportation improvements, most notably for TRAX expansions"... One Utah says the Deseret Morning News bashes Mayor Rocky Anderson to keep "their Davis County subscriber base happy"... Random Meanderings and Other Meaningless Blather says: "It seems to me that no matter what level of government we're talking about, civic, state, or federal, when the government tries to impose a moral agenda on its base of citizenry through legislation, it is crossing a line"... The Utah Amicus notes S.L. County Mayor Peter Corroon's Carsonesque timing... Utah Educator says: "As long as the UEA and it's cohorts consider the perpetuation of its own education system as a higher priority than the children in the system, our children will continue to receive a mediocre education"... Sixth Column has a post about the Western U.S.'s vast oil shale deposits, and asks: "Are we the 'New Middle East'?"
-- Compiled by Golden Webb.
Local Watch
Ogden Gondola FAQ
The Ogden City website has posted a FAQ list about Ogden's proposed gondola/resort project. To read it, click here.
MAG FAQ
The Mountainland Association of Governments has prepared a response to specific questions about the agency and the programs they administer for newspaper articles and political campaigns. For more info, click here or here.
Redevelopment Seminar
The Utah Redevelopment Association is sponsoring a half-day seminar for Utah redevelopment agency officials on April 28. Says the event announcement: "Following the 2006 State Legislature, redevelopment in Utah is quite a different animal from what it was before. Every redevelopment agency needs to understand clearly how the rules have changed and how agencies can still do projects which follow the spirit and letter of the law." For more info, click here.
Job Opening
Education Policy Analyst Sought
The University of Utah's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and College of Education is seeking to fill a full-time policy analyst position in the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC). The UEPC’s purpose is to improve the quality of educational policies, practices, and leadership in Utah public schools and higher education and increase educational access and opportunities for all Utah children and adult, particularly those who have been historically marginalized.
Candidates need experience and/or expertise in educational policy in preK-12 and/or higher education and at least a master’s degree in education leadership and policy or related field. For more information click here. Applications are now being accepted with a May 2006 or soon thereafter as possible starting date.
James Taranto’s Best of the Web
(From Thursday’s OpinionJournal.com)
Um, Yeah, Whatever. Or Maybe Not. "Catching sight of a pretty woman really is enough to throw a man's decision-making skills into disarray, a study suggests," the BBC reports. "The more testosterone he has, the vaguer he will be, according to work by Belgian researchers."
Uh, we're not really sure what we think of this. On the one hand, it sounds like an interesting study. On the other hand, maybe it's bunk. We can't decide. The article has a nice picture, though.
In That Case, We'll Have the Won Ton Soup. "Egg Roll Includes Gay Parents"--headline, Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.), April 18.
Casual Friday
"Daddy Rides" and Fishing
By Phil Douglass, DWR Information Officer
The smile on young Kyler Hardman's face told the story-he was getting a "Daddy ride." Dads are famous for 'em!
Wheelbarrows and shoulders have been traditional methods for the "Dad ride." But Tyler's father, Kyle Hardman of Brigham City, has found another way to give his son a ride that gives both of them lots of reasons to laugh and smile.
Kyle has rigged his pontoon boat so he can pull his son Kyler along in Kyler’s float tube. This method of fishing got both of them in the middle of a “bluegill bite” that put big smiles on both of their faces and a nice stringer of tasty bluegill on the table for a family fish fry.
But even if the fish hadn’t been biting that day, they would have had a great time tugging and being tugged around the lake.
How long has it been since you have given or received a "Dad ride"? If it's been a while, here are some ideas for fishing trips in northern Utah that include a “Dad ride”:
Canoe Adventures
Even if you don't own a canoe, there are plenty of places where you can rent one for a half day or longer.
Two great fishing spots for canoeists in northern Utah are Causey Reservoir east of Huntsville and Little Dell Reservoir east of Salt Lake City.
Canyon Sports in Ogden and Wasatch Touring in Salt Lake City offer reasonable rates on canoe rentals.
Little Dell is closed to motorboats and Causey is open only to motorboats that have small motors. The motorboats on Causey must travel slowly, at wakeless speeds.
Day Trip To a River
Jesse and Tyler Logan of Cache Valley had just crested the hill from the river they had been fishing together down in the canyon. Despite the steepness of the trail, they were all smiles. They had also taken a “Dad ride” to their favorite fishing spot. Even though they’re both adults, the smiles on their faces showed that unmistakable characteristic that comes from being on an excursion together.
The Logan and Blacksmith Fork rivers are both Blue Ribbon streams in Utah (streams that provide excellent fishing) and are perfect places for a drive and a fishing excursion together.
Float Tube/ATV Fishing
The North Slope of the Uinta Mountains is loaded with fishing waters and great all-terrain vehicle trails. Next time you go to the Uintas, try strapping a float tube and a fishing rod to your ATV.
For some tips on where to go, pick up the booklet series "The Lakes of the High Uintas" produced by the Division of Wildlife Resources. The booklets provide detailed information about fish populations and campsites in the Uintas. Booklets for some of the drainages are out of print, but booklets for the most popular drainages are still available. The booklets that are available can be ordered online at www.mapstore.utah.gov/wildpubs.htm. You can also purchase them at DWR offices and at the DNR Map & Bookstore at 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City.
Over time, wheelbarrow and shoulder rides just don't work like they used to, but a fishing "ride" is truly a lifelong activity that you’ll grow to savor. And remember, all “Dad rides” come with the promise of hearing an enthusiastic “Do it again Dad!” Visit the DWR website to view pictures of this story.
Outdoors Report
The Morning News reports that spring skiing continues at a few resorts this weekend… Read a Tribune article about a Utah skiing success story ... It’s the best season for catching that trophy fish... The Tribune features a story about fishing on the Salmon River in Idaho... Outdoors roundup includes info about a women’s shotgun open house, hunt permit results, and which golf courses open this week.
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