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Show The Park Record A-2 Bill aims to boost turnout Summit County Clerk Sue Follett, a Democrat, opposes the may register when they arrive at legislation, arguing that it would [he proper election precinct. cost the county an extra $5,000 The supporters argue that the each Election Day for extra legislation would likely increase judges plus the costs of computer voter lurnoul but there is a and telephone hookups to enable movement to squash the bill by the judges to access electronic others who are worried about voter rolls. logistical problems that the bill's Folletl, the county's elections provisions may create on officer, said Summit County Election Day. would need two extra people at Locally, Mayor Dana each of the county's 21 polling Williams, a longtime champion locations to check proofs of resiof the public's involvement in dency and make sure that new government, said he supports the voters are casting ballots in the theory behind the legislation but right place. acknowledged he has not seen "It could become chaotic. the bill's text. Lines could be long," Follett •'Overall, the idea of some- said. body being able to register on the She supports the current law spot is encouraging," Williams requiring that people register in said. "It further opens the door the period before Election Day. for anyone who wants to partici"I'm all for everyone having pate." the chance to vote . . . but the Williams said he hopes that limit should stay the same," voter turnout would increase if Follett said. such registration is allowed. Follett, meanwhile, doubts "It's another opportunity for that Election Day-registration people to participate and it's would greatly increase the nummaking it as easy as it possibly ber of voters. can (be)." Williams said. "The ones that have procrastiThe detractors, however, are nated were not in the voting worried about potential prob- mode to begin with," she said. lems on Election Day, like poll The legislators had not voted workers becoming backed up as on the bill by Friday morning. It they try to verify whether people remains in the House of are eligible to vole. Representatives. • Continued from A-1 A fiscal note attached to the bill briefly addresses some of Follett's concerns regarding increased costs. The note indicates that Salt Lake County estimates that it would cost about $105,000 more in personnel costs for each election and another $100,000 for the equipment. Rep. Ross Romero, a Democrat from Salt Lake City who represents the Snyderville Basin in the House, said he supports the bill's theory but wants to listen to the debate among legislators. "It gets to the idea of allowing people and encouraging people and giving people more opportunities to vote," Romero said, adding, "I think it would boost voter turnout. I think it would provide people the option who did not register to vote." Romero said the benefits he sees in the bill outweigh the concerns expressed by Follett, Rep. David Ure, a Republican from Kamas who represents Park City and the East Side of Summit County, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. An aide to Ure said the representative does not support the bill and is trying to defeat the legislation but was unsure of the nature of Ure's opposition. Plan saves old boardinghouse S500.000 to keep the boardinghouse up and Belz will lose another $1.5 million in anticipatKuhn said preserving the ed proceeds by not erecting a boardinghouse could possibly put building on the ground where the the project initially in the red by boardinghouse sits. S2 million. He said it will cost He said tax credits from the • Continued from A-1 state and federal governments could make up the difference. Milliner, the planner, said a Planning Commission vote on the Bel/, proposal could be scheduled as early as March 23 or delayed until April. Animal cruelty is now a felony SALT LAKE CITY (AP) After working it over with amendments and exceptions, the Utah House approved a measure on Thursday making animal cruelty a felony, up fiom a misdemeanor. Some representatives said child abusers and serial killers start by torturing pets or other animals and that Utah was behind other slates making the worst abuses a felony. "Sometimes it seems Western states get a bad rap for being less sensitive to animals. I would argue to the contrary! ATl'Wes'tern states, except for Xltah.'and'/pQe' other, have made certain forms of animal torture a felony," said co-sponsor and Rep. Neil Hansen. D-Ogden. The bill gives prosecutors the option of filing a third-degree felon)', and sponsor Rep. Scott Wyalt, R-Logan, said it had the support of many ranchers and farmers after being amended to make exception for rodeo animals, livestock, hunting dogs, falcons and zoo animals. "He spent a lot of time on it. We worked it over very hard," said rancher and dairy farmer Rep. David Ure, R-Kamas, a member of the House natural resources committee, Wyatt's bill passed the House on 56-15 vote and now goes to the Senate for a vote. On the House floor, Wyalt lifted one of his own provisions that automatically would have elevated animal cruelty by one degree of misdemeanor or felony if it was committed in the presence of a juvenile. . ,."There's a lot of. members of this body that don't want that enhancement. I'm happy to take this piece by piece," Wyatt said. Rep. Glenn Donnelson, RNorth Ogden, said he sets heavy bear-claw traps for skunks in his corn patch. Donnelson said he can't use live traps because the skunks spray their obnoxious odor when handled, and that the traps captured and killed three house cats last year. Wyatt said that wouldn't make Donnelson liable for animal abuse, which has to be done with criminal intent and deliberation, but Donnelson was unconvinced, voting against the measure. "I don't want to lose my concealed carry permit because I caught a cat in my trap," Donnelson said. Utah revokes permits for concealed weapons for people convicted of felony offenses. " R,ep. Eric Hutchings.. "RKearns, said he had reservations, fearing zealous prosecutions for animal abuse. He noted the bill doesn't make exceptions for Utah's Lagoon amusement park, where "their emu last year looked terrible - like it was being tortured." An emu is a flightless bird, second in size only to the ostrich and found in Australia. LJV. luncheon honors Hughes Park City's Abby Hughes recognized at athletic luncheon By ADIA WALDBURGER Of the Record staff Two weeks ago Park City's Abby Hughes jumped into the national spotlight. The teen ski jumper flew to Los Angeles to attend the Amateur Athletic Foundation's (AAF) "Girls and Women in Sports Day" lunchcon, an annual event that recognizes the achievements of female athletes across the country. Hughes, 15, was selected for her excellence in the sport of ski jumping. The Park City High School sophomore took first place in the girls division of the 2004 Junior Olympics and finished second in the boys' team events as the only female entry. She is also part of an PHOTO COURTESY OF WOMEN'S SKI JUMPING accomplished group of young women leading the fight to Anita DeFrantz (left) presents an award of excellence to Abby make women's ski jumping an Hughes for her accomplishments in women's ski jumping. Olympic event. The luncheon honored outstanding female athletes. "When you look at it, ski jumping isn't a big sport and dedicated to all sports in the anorexia for 20 years and she there's not a lot of women in it," U.S. Any sport from A to Z. If still runs. She keeps up her pace said Hughes you are looking a sport, they've and she's 40-something with The award was given to got it," said Hughes. five kids and she still runs Hughes by Anita DeFrantz, The best part of the day for everyday." president of the AAF and an Flughcs came when there was a Hughes is now preparing for International Olympic short film presentation of her the 2005 Junior Olympic Committee member. DeFrantz competing in ski jumping. The Championships. She began recently made a trip to Park film, which was created by her competing internationally this City as a show of support for older brother Blake, was set to year and has already finished in the movement to recognize the tune of Tom Petty's the top 10 in international comwomen's ski jumping as an "American Girl," and showed petition. She hopes that not Olympic event, Hughes at her athletic best. only will she repeat as the "I met Anita once and she "I thought the highlight was Junior Olympic champion this wanted me to be recognized, when people were watching the year, but also finish first over all because women's ski jumping video of me ski jumping," said of the competitors, both male isn't in the Olympics and we Hughes. "It was just cool seeing and female. need to let the Olympic com- people react to seeing what I "I am hoping to repeat. My mittee know that if we put do." coaches are telling me I have a women's ski jumping in the Also receiving awards were pretty good chance to win overOlympics, we have a great Sarah Reinertsen a record- all, including over the boys," chance of winning," said holding amputee triathletc, said Hughes. Hughes. Courtney Conlugue, a 12-yearHughes also plans to continThe AAF is an organization old champion surfer, and Kathy ue fighting to get her sport into endowed with Southern Kohner-Zuckerman, the surfer the Olympic Games. She volunCalifornia's share of the surplus on whom the television series teered at a benefit in November from the 1984 Olympic Summer "Gidget" was based. and has passed informational Games. The foundation is comOffering the keynote address fliers out to kids at the Olympic mitted to women's sports, and was ultra marathoner Pam Speed Skating Oval in Reams. awards grants to youth sport Reed, a recovering anorexic Despite all of her accomplishorganizations, runs its own who has won the 135-mile run ments and hard work, though, youth sport programs and hous- from Death Valley to the top of Hughes is humbled by the es the world's premier sports Ml. Whitney twice, and also award. library. serves as director of the Tucson "I just felt honored, because The trip to Los Angeles was marathon. Hughes was especial- I was being compared with all a first for Hughes, who traveled ly touched by her speech. of the other women," rP4pid there just for the day with ner "I thought she was incredi- Hughes. "I felt really honored"," mother. Hughes was in >iwe of ^ ble. She's nuts. She would run because .they were^uchitrementhe AAF, especially the muse- 100 miles a day in 103-degree dous athletes and for me to be um. heat, and she's do that for fun," compared as one of them is "They have this museum said Hughes. "She had suffered awesome." Immigrant licenses debated • Continued from A-1 degrees. This is consistent with tests of Utah teacher capabilities, said Patti Harrington, Utah's Superintendent of Public Education. "We have worked closely with the governor's office to convince the federal government of the exceptional quality of educators which Utah employs today," she said in a statement. "Utah continues to exceed national averages in almost every category of assessment and accountability." Earlier this month, the federal department made a similar concession to North Dakota. "Once they had sort of capitulated to North Dakota, we felt there would be a good chance to get a similar finding here," said Utah Education Association President Pat Rusk. Db G "It's a situation where it's going to get jammed down [the Latinos'] throat, but at least they still have the privilege of being able to drive," Ure said. "I think it's going to pass. The momentum is going strong enough now." The Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, a lobbying group, and Shelley Weiss, a local Latino advocate, reluctantly endorse SB 227. "[Latinos] think it's degrading,1' Weiss said, adding, however, "at least people have a driving privilege. I think that it is the lesser of two evils." However, she questions whether some insured Latinos, currently driving legally, will obtain the new card. "Is the undocumented population going to want a thing stuck to their license that says, 'I'm here illegally?'" Weiss said. Enjoy the Finer Things In Life Best Steaks Best Seafood RESTAURANT ) * ;* bill, sponsored by Rep. Curt Oda, R-CIcarfield, currently being debated by senators, addresses concerns related to racial profiling, by requiring foreign nationals in the United States to legally obtain the same driving privilege card. Officers wouldn't know the difference, Bramble adds. For illegal immigrants, the cards are valid for one year. Those here legally would have five years or until their visa expires, he said. According to a recent legislative audit, about 95,000 illegal immigrants have received driver licenses or state identification cards. Ure and Bramble agree, the findings, which highlight a number of abuses, including some illegal immigrants allegedly using IDs to vote, prompted the 2005 Legislature to act. he adds. Next week, Ure expects the House Rules Committee to allow representatives to vote on the bill without input from a standing However, it appears that only committee. parts of Utah's testing and school "I see the tendency for accountability system, U-PASS, [Latinos] to be profiled," Ure may be used to meet NCLB said, adding that if the courts requirements, though the issue is deem the new card unconstitustill up in the air, tional, illegal immigrants, who State associate superintendent can't get a Social Security numRay Timothy said, "It looks like ber, could continue to receive we'll have to do a dual-type system. driver licenses with an individual We'll continue to jump through tax identification number (ITIN) NCLB hoops if we have to, but ... from the IRS. not at the expense of U-PASS." During last week's protests The actions come as the Utah Utah Highway Patrol troopers at Legislature considers two bills times escorted Bramble through challenging NCLB. the Capitol. House Bill 135, sponsored by "It was a well-mannered Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, demonstration," Bramble said. would give Utah's educational He claims a separate House goals priority over NCLB. House Joint Resolution 3, sponThroughout 2005, The Record'will celebrate and reflect on the last 125 years (while looking sored by Rep. Kory Holdaway, Rforward to the next) and we'd like your help. Those who have anecdotes to share about workTaylorsville, states Utah's U-PASS accountability system meets the ing at or reading T/ie Record are. encouraged to send them to spirit of NCLB. 125anniversary@parkrecord.com. Most teachers classified as qualified SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Close to 95 percent of Utah teachers will be classified as "highly qualified" under an agreement between the slate and the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, only 50 percent were considered highly qualified under (he No Child" Left Behind standards. "We have known all along that Utah has extraordinary teachers," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Wednesday. "The approval received today will recognize the superior quality of teaching, which is delivered in the classrooms throughout the state." The federal deparlment agreed to accept the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation, which will allow veteran teachers to meet NCLB standards even without specialized Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, February 26-March 1, 2005 SUSHI 435 - 655 - 0800 |