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Show , Obituaries B2 Utah News B3 a Business f ff N pJ UJ MJJ (o B5 f lh , C A-- P 1 Friday, February 2, 1996 Bill limiting f reebies Confusion seasons . W N The Daily Herald of J . contagious numbers in setting the limit, and said he should have called for no gifts for legislators if he was concerned about ethics. Existing laws require lobbyists to report the name of any legislator to whom they give gifts worth Without debate, committee tables ethics effort Mother Nature seems to have in a big In Christthe before weeks way. mas our weather hardly color coordinated with the holiday season. But the past fortnight has clearly been the '"Winter Wonderland'" of the decade. I wonder if Mum Nature's confusion is contagious? This past week I counted several dozen homes, in our valley and also in Salt Lake County, still sporting Christmas lights. We're not talking here about houses with strings of unlit bulbs scalloped across the roofline as a fixture. ' permanent year-roun- d That way of doing things is part of Utah's popular culture, proba- - By DONALD W. MEYERS The Daily Herald confused her calendar SALT LAKE CITY Rep. Jordan Tanner's efforts to limit gifts to legislators came to a grinding halt Thursday. In less than two minutes and with no public debate, the House State and Local Affairs Committee voted 2 to table the Provo Republican's bill limiting legislators to S50 in gifts, tangible or otherwise. 8-- Rep. John B. Arrington, moved to table the bill, claiming it would take too long to discuss and amend, and that Tanner has brought this issue up repeatedly. Tanner and Rep. Mary Carlson, Lake City, were the only committee members to vote against the motion. Reps. Lowell A. Nelson. and Tim Moran. Fork, voted in fav or of the move. Arrington said later that he D-S- Elouisc Dell questioned Tanner's choice of 19C3 Utah 4. mwrrf tfk UCglSMUUG www: M - i more than $50 in a single day. Tanner said the law does not cover intangible items, like tickets to athletic events and dinners. "I'm frankly offended by the number of Jazz tickets and other tickets that are given to legislators," he said. Tanner's bill would limit the value of all gifts to $50, with the exception of ceremonial items and gifts given to the entire body. Tanner said the move to table the bill before hearing public comment was a breach of rules and public trust. "I think they take it personally," Tanner said. He provided reporters with the results of a Deserct NewsKSL-Tpoll showing that most Utahns feel spiked Emissions testing for legislators to from gifts lobbyists. accept Betsy Wolf, of Utah Common Cause, said the speed of the action gave her the impression that the move was orchestrated. "It shows they have no interest in the issue. Clearly, they did not want to discuss it," she said. She said the vote sent a clear message that the Legislature does not want to abide by the same rules as other elected officials. State law limits county and municipal officials to receiving $50 in gifts. Wolf said even the U.S. House of Representatives has stricter gift rules than the Utah State Legislature. Stan Harbuck. a Utah resident, said the legislators do not take the issue seriously because House and Senate leadership are not concerned about it. Tanner could try to put the bill back on the table, but that would require a vote on the House floor, s with of the members approving the request. But Wolf said it was too early to tell if Tanner could muster the 50 votes he would need to move the bill. it is inappropriate two-third- will wait for By DONALD W. MEYERS The Daily Herald SALT LAKE CITY Rep. Darlene Gubler, Lake City, is going to wait for the air to clear in Washington before overhauling emissions lestinsi legislation in Utah. Gubler withdrew her bill to allow county governments to establish biennial emissions and diesel testing before the bill makes it to the House Transportation and Public Safety Committee. Gubler said federal regulations for emissions testing are in a state of extreme transition. As a result, the bill's recommendations could be outdated in a short period of time. The recently enacted National Highway Designation Act bars the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from forcing a state to adopt enhanced emissions testing, allowing the states to devise alternative programs that will be tested for a two-yeperiod. "I want to hold it until everything's celled," Gubler said. ar Unheralded Police playground bly grounded in the doctrine of efficiency: once Harry and Velma go to the trouble of securing the lights up there so they'll withstand snowstorms and high winds, it's just common sense to leave them and save the annual liT'i. ,TLL " clearer air Also. Salt Lake County officials are not to the point where they could implement the testing schedule . her bill offers. Commission Utah County Chairman Jerry D. Grovei' said another issue concerned feaijs that an unscrupulous motorist living in an area with annual testing would register is or her car in an, area '.. with inspections. Grover. who helped draft the legislation, said he was disappointed the bill was not introduced, but optimistic that it would be brought back w hen the issues are clearer. Grover said a biennial test for clean cars is one option Utah County officials are considering as an alternative to enhanced emissions testing. The state Division of Air Quality recommended enhanced emissions testing to control carbon monoxide in Provo and particulates and ozone in Salt Lake County. Critics, including the Utah County Commission, argue the test is costly and ineffective. Provo mulls leasing its golf course TT T bill By ROD COLLETT The Daily Herald Associate Sports Editor expenditure of time and the threat to life, limb and ligaments. But this year we re seeing an unusual number of outdoor decorations still up and running full time more than a month after Christmas. Blinking, twirling, and probably sending Morse code greetings, the merry lights continue to sparkle on rooftops, doorways, trees, shrubs and lampposts. Moreover, I am positive I saw two indoor Christmas frees still ablaze. My curiosity bump is itching fiercely. Why are valley folk letting the Christmas lights linger? I could, theoretically, ASK my neighbors about it. But in my family, one of the steeliest rules was: Don't ask questions! Mind your own business! With that injunction drummed into my head, it was a miracle I ever made it through my journalism major. So I'm not likely to go door to door asking, "What can you tell me about your lingering lights? I would like to know more." Therefore, I have plied my imagination. Why would people leave Christmas lights up until Groundhog's Day? Here are my guesses: . The decorator has moved on. literally. Perhaps a college1-ag- e son or daughter got energetic and put up the handsome display, which now seems too for Mom and Dad to dismantle. "He'll be home for the President's Day weekend: let's wait till then." 2. The decorator has moved on. figuratively. Harry caught the Big Bulb bug from his neighbors and went all out. Now he's all in. Moreover, he's got new interests, and is deep into Internet territory on his Christmas personal computer. Let the display fend for itself. 3. The homeowners decided, with Keats, that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever." We don't take . down "This Is the Place" monument just because Pioneer Day is over.. We don't haul dow n every flag when the Fourth is finished. You succeed in dazzling the world with the perfect outdoor Christmas spread: let 'em be dazzled a little longer. There's no expiration date on splendor. 4. There's a land mine strung up with those light bulbs. Sometimes major projects produce major headaches and domestic discord. Maybe getting all those lights strung around the roof, across the garage, through the bushes and up the flagpole resulted in harsh words, spats, and The issue of leasing Provo city's golf course facility will be put to public scrutiny Tuesday when the City Council holds a study session at 5:30 p.m.. at the city chambers. According to councilman Karl Thalman. who also chairs the Parks and Recreation Committee, the idea of privatizing the East Bay golf course has its merits and . drawbacks. "I'm going into this with an open mind." said Thalman today. ' One of the big problems (at East Bay) is the irrigation system which needs new pumps and pipes throughout the course. About 16 of the 8 holes need some major spi-rali- . 1 work." Last summer, the Last Bay golf crew had e turned into plumbers trying to stop a literal Hood of breaks on sprinkler lines. "By midsummer, we had over course maintenance 's)CE ' A full-tim- f f r "The city would get a percentage of the .. 4 Provo police officer Mark Fordham kneels by a makeshift police son Steven peeks out a in his front yard while window. Mark Fordham told family members he would build the 1 Daily Herald PhotoMatthew R. Smith g snow fort if they cleaned the house in return. Originally from of white is the loads Fordham he Florida, says enjoying deprived stuff. snow-buildin- Karl time-consumi- d silence. periods of Now that harmony has been restored, no one wants to sound a sour note by bringing up the subject of undecorating the front of the manse. Let's pretend we don't notice 3,200 red. green, orange and blue lights flashing outside the picture window as we browse the valentine's Day ads. Well, maybe. But somehow I don't think I've got to the bottom of this phenomenon. Maybe I will end up knocking on doors after all. tight-lippe- profits, although it wouldn't realize that for three or fqur years, but it wouldn't have any expenses." Bill protecting pedestrians advances By DONALD W. MEYERS The Daily Herald The SALT LAKE CITY House Transportation and Public Safety Committee agrees that cyclists and skaters should not be careening recklessly into pedestrians on trails and paths. The committee unanimously voted Thursday to approve Rep. Norm L. Nielsen's bill requiring cyclists, skaters and skateboarders to yield to pedestrians on trails and paths, as well as on sidewalks and crosswalks. The Orem Republican's bill also bars a person from operating a "human-powered- " vehicle in a negligent manner. The existing law only requires cyclists to yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and crosswalks. It does not address other forms of nonmo-torie- d transportation, such as inline skates and skateboards. The bill. Nielsen said, "provides help for the pedestrian, who is on the lowest end of the food chain." Nielsen said he drafted the bill after a constituent was involved in accident. t Virginia Taylor, a retired school teacher, had been advised by her physician to walk to build up her strength after cancer surgery. Taylor was knocked down and run over by a cyclist a pedestrian-cyclis- ld (See BIKES, Page B2) councilman EchoHawk: Dare to dream starts with three strikes against him. He is a Mormon. Indian, By MARK EDDINGTON The Daily Herald Preparation, service, hard work and character are the keys to realizing the American dream of opportunity and success, Brigham Young University law professor Larry EchoHawk said Thursday. Illustrating those keys with examples from his own life, EchoHawk urged students at the Ezra Taft Benson Building to take full advantage of their educational experience and to become prepared to serve others. "Use your education to bless the lives of others." said EchoHawk. "There is no higher power in life than to use what you have to help others." A Pawnee Indian. EchoHawk said he w as taught the principles of success early on by his parents. Although his mother had but an eighth-gradeducation, he said she children a thirst for her to imparted all six of her a As result, learning. children went on to college, and e three, including EchoHawk, became lawyers. His father, he added, taught the importance of hard work by having his children work at an early age to help support the family. Another lesson EchoHawk said he learned from his father was the value of serv ice. The senior EchoHaw k observed the InJian tradition of "giveaway." "In times of celebration and mourning, Indian people will give away what they have to help others. When people came to our home and admired srmetoinjLwe Democrat." Rather than becoming IrtP had. my father would give it to them." EchoHawk recalled. cited by Other mentors EchoHawk were his older brother John and BYU football coach LaVell Edwards. While playing football for BYU years ago. EchoHawk said he was taught by then assistant coach Edwards that the most important thing for success is the will to prepare, not the will to win. His brother advised him to go on to law school. discour- aged. EchoHawk said remarks like that motivated him to campaign even harder. After realizing on election night that he was going to win. EchoHawk said he sat in his hotel room and pondered what he should say to the news media. The answer came to him as he recalled his upbringing and thought of his proud Native American heritage. He said the words of Martin Larry EchoHawk Luther King's speech, which he had heard and committed to memory when he was 1 5. came to mind. "When I faced the reporters. I spoke straight from the heart. I shared the words of that speech," he said. " 'I have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream, that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day my children will be raised in a nation where they w ill not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content self-evide- nt EchoHawk did both, which enabled him to become a rising star on the Idaho political scene. In of their character.' " 1990 he ran for Idaho attorney EchoHawk said he learned the become the to seeking general, importance of character from Morfirst Democrat in 20 years to win mon Church President Spencer W. election to that office and the first Kimball, who married and counNative American in the history of seled him and his w ife in the tem' the United States to get elected to ple. EchoHaw k called upon students any statewide, constitutional electo use their experience at BYU to tive office. decide what their character w ill be "When I announced my deciand to prepare themselves so they sion to run for that office, a political analyst said: 'Larry EchoHawk can be of service to others. POOS ; - Thalmancity 200 breaks (of pipes). By the end of the golf season, I would imag- ine the breaks w ere up to 300. East Bay sits on the old landfill and the settling had led to breakage. Riverside Country Club probably has two or three breaks per year. ' Thalman said. If the city leased the course, die City Council would still retain authority to set green fees. The Tuesday meeting is a City Council study session, and: any interested persons are invited to attend, but can't make any comments for the record. The first public hearins on the issue will be held Feb. 20." Another problem for the course is the constant loss of fairway yardage w hich collapses into the many lakes. Thalman said keystone blocks used to reinforce the banks and need replacement. "The fairways are getting smaller." he said. Overall. Thalman said East Bay could use S2 million in improvements. "That's a major expense. If we go to the lease route, the company would put Xip ' that money." Thalman said another benefit of leasing is that the current employees at East Bay would be taken off the city payroll, thus saving more than $100,000. ; :: "The city would get a percent- -' age of the profits, although it wouldn't realize that for three-o- r four years, but it wouldn't have any expenses," he said. If Provo city did lease the golf course to a local firm, it would likely be for a period of 15 years. "I want the public to be informed on this," said Thalman.' - |
