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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31. 1994 News Another drowning at Lake Powell Wheel Fee Late Friday afternoon, Auold girl from gust 19, a Salt Lake City, drowned in the White Canyon area of Lake Powell. She had apparently ar wandered away from her familys camp and was found by family members in the water. Visitors in the area, who were trained Emergency Medical Technicians, performed CPR until National Park Sendee rangers arrived on the scene. In tional Recreation Area's total fatality figure to seven since the July 4th weekend. Four out of the seven have been children. Of the seven fatalities, five have been as a result of drowning, one was from heat exhaustion, and one was from injuries sustained as a result of a cliff diving accident. Any fatality is a tragedy, but when children are the victims, the tragedy is compounded, Continued from Page erybody here is in favor of a small sales tax?" Questioned a somewhat incredulous Mayor Adams. All audience members agreed. Kanab City Attorney Van Mackelprang said that a sales tax would require state approval. We cant implement what the legislature doesnt approve. Raise the impact fee and work on the sales tax," directed Jim Pardee. The audience consensus supported the Councils immediate action on pursuing a sales tax, and having them levy an immediate impact fee on new buildings. spite of continuous CPR efforts said Acting Superintendent Larry A. May. We seem to be the infant was ers, pronounced continually reminding visitors, dead by the Bullfrog Clinic after the fact, to think safety at all times when in or around the Physicians Assistant. This brings Glen Canyon Na water. by both park visitors and rang- U S 1 WEST ETHICAL IN REGULATORY DEALINGS Lately, you may have heard or seen reports regarding recent Utah Supreme Court rulings that affect U S WEST Communications (USWC). Some are interpreting the rulings to mean that USWC has been over earning. Furthermore, you may have heard that we coerced the Public Service Commission (PSC) into setting a higher authorized rate of return in exchange for upgrading witching centers in the state. In essence, some are saying that Gary Harrison the PSC was derelict in its regulation of USWC and allowed the r Cenur.ur.:?; A 'i.rs VS 'EST Co ur ui:. : rj company to make "unreasonable and unjustified profits" at the 67 :n Sr Gieme public's expense. Ethics: We absolutely disagree with any assertion that we have been anything but forthright and ethical in our dealings with regulators. To adhere to the highest ethical standards of business conduct is a basic principle of our company and one by u hich every U S WEST employee must abide. Actual imestment record: The fact is that USWC has invested more than $1.1 billion in Utah in the past 10 years. Last year alone we invested $160 million and expect to invest a record $ &0 million during 994. This commitment to investment, I might add. has continued during multiple rate decreases and rates of return that are among the lowest in the nation. In 1990. a portion of our incentive regulation proposal was to make discretionary investments - above and beyond what was obligated or economically justified - in Utah upgrades of the telephone system. As a result, we requested a higher return to justify to our shareholders the investment of discretionary capital. Modernization in compliance with PSC order: In 1991. the PSC ordered its own incentive regulation plan including modernization of rural switching centers. According to state statute, we exercised our option to refuse the PSC's plan and chose to remain under traditional rate of return regulation. The PSC didn't rescind the modernization portion. Although we appealed the order to the Utah Supreme Court based on principle, we are 1 1 -- -- 1995 deadline. complying with it. In fact, we will fmih well before the PSC consistent in its performance: In our opinion, the Commission certainly isn't derelict in its regulation of USWC. Since 19$7. it has ordered $95 million in rate reductions. Utah's residential rates are among the lowest in the nation, as is our authorized rate ot return. Historical earnings below authorized levels: Regulators use authorized rate of return on equity (ROE) figures to determine rates. Since it's not an exact science, we rarely earn exactly at the authorized level. For example, we earned above our ROE in the late 19$0's after having under earned during the early and mid eighties. In fact, from 19S2 to 1991 we earned a net $22 million below our authorized levels. To summarize: While differences in opinion and interpretation may come and go. we have and w ill deal in an ethical manner. As for Utah investment and earnings, we w ill allow the records to speak for themselves. Lastly, we believe the PSCs decision record strongly demonstrates its commitment to balance the needs of a regulated utility with the best interests of the public. end-of-ye- (Advertisement paid for by U S ar WEST Shareholders) Utah Highway Patrol j and was arrested and charged with alleged failure to stop at Whitaker. Incident: Autoaccident. the command of a peace officer Lane Goulding. 17, Orderville, (felony), and speeding. Utah was attempting to make a August 10 left hand turn into J.V.s Cafe when Investigating officer: Shane he was passed on the left by Yanick Nordfelt. Incident: Auto acciJegou. 4 1 . of France. Both vehicles dent. Both vehicles were in the received damage but no one was southbound lane. The vehicle driven by Emanuel A. Lopresto, hurt due to seat belts. 4 55, Hamburg, New York was in August left southbound lane and the Steve officer: the Investigating Esplin. Incident: DUI. probable car, driven by Thomas E. intox arrest. Harold Dejdre, 43, Mulcock,44,Salt Lake City, was Kaibeto, Arizona was stopped for in the right lane. Lopresto ata very poor driving pattern, cross- tempted to make a right turn ing left of center. Further inves- onto SR 14 from the left tigation found him to be intoxi- southbound land, and did so dicated. He was arrested and rectly in the path of Mulcock. booked into jail for alleged DUI August 15 and open container. The passenInvestigating officer: Russ arrested Whitaker. Incident: Gravel spill ger. Floyd Oresalt was for alleged public intoxication. on highway. Blair Riddle, 40, Kanab. was loaded with dirt and August 8 officer: Steve gravel, headingto the Sand Dunes Investigating Incident: Evadingpolice. Road from Panguitch. Entering Esplin. D. Seth Campeau. 20. of Florida, Orderville. Blair tried to slow his was clocked with speeds of 74 truck by using the Jake Brake, m.p.h. in a 55 m.p.h. zone. When but accidentally hit the dump reEsplin attempted to stop him. lease instead. Gravel was spread he attempted to evade Esplin at across the highway for approxa high rate of speed southbound. imately! 2 block. Thanks to Brian He was eventually stopped near Lamb who took charge of the Mt. Carmel by Leon Brinkerhoff clean-ueffort s to open up traffic. July 21 Investigating officer: Russ p Travel Council praised in national magazine The Utah Travel Councils information packet is rated one of the six best in the U.S. in the latest issue of a popular travel magazine. CondeNast Traveler, in it s September issue, says Utah is one of six states which is best at sending out useful, helpful materials to tourists. Reporter Paul Grimes contacted all 50 states plus the District of Columbia for free tourist information. He said the rating is his personal view, but that he "uniformly appraised whether is fully detailed and follow and has useful maps easy to and calendars of events. He gave Utah an "A rating, one of only six. The other five states given A" grades are Alabama. Delaware. Kentucky, Nebraska and about the state. It is a e magazine which details places to go, things to do, sights to see in each of the states nine travel regions. It sincludes a map, calendar of events, general information about the state and its state parks, national parks, and public lands. A study bv the Utah Travel Council shows that 60 percent of the people who requested the free travel information packet in response to magazine ads actually came to Utah on vacation. That conversion of readers to travelers is extremely high in the travel industry. In the same September issue The Utah Travel Council, an agency of the State of Utah, produces several publications each year aimed at helping tourists plan vacations and trips to Utah. The annual Utah Travel Guide is the main publication sent to travelers seeking information Backbone road near Boulder, Utah in Garfield County as a scenic drive, and a feature advertisemajor ment about the state produced in cooperation with Jeep entitled, Take a Ride in Nature's Amusement Park. Wisconsin. 92-pag- full-col- or of Conde Nast Traveler, Utah is also featured in a photo showing the road to Zion National Park, a paragraph about the Hells little-know- n Petrolane Comer The superior man is modest in his speech , but exceeds in his actions. Confucius |
