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Show -- arrw'iwMirfijtfr rnrrl UNIVERSITY Cedar City, Utah Student runs for city office By KYLE KOPP kkoppsuunews.com a senior Smith, Benjamin King communication major from St. George, will be running in the 2011 Municipal Election for a spot on the Cedar City Council. Smith may become the first student while currently attending SUU to be elected into a four-yeterm seat for the Cedar City council. The primary election is set for Sept. 13. The city council acts as a board of directors that steer the community in a positive direction and help new programs that are bound to follow. Smith explained that he started seriously thinking about running for the city council five month ago and has a strong desire to do great things for the community. He said he hears a lot of people dont feel they have a strong bond with the city leadership, and he wants to help change that. I want people to use the city council as a catalyst for their ideas, Smith said. I want the average person to know that they are running the show. His campaign goals contain three major platforms he wants to address if elected to city council. They are availability, opportunity and community. I want to be available to listen to all ideas and give the people easier access to the city council, Smith said. The community needs careers that people can potentially raise a family on and see themselves doing for another 20 - 30 years. He explained that the economy is rough and it is becoming tough to get a decent job in Cedar City. He is running for city council for those people who want to build a more robust future for themselves. In an interview with The Spectrum, Smith said the concerns of college students are different from the concerns of business owners, Native Americans, and other diverse groups of Cedar City. The city councils job is to listen to all the concerns and address them as they appear, Smith said. I want to help represent all aspects of the community and make them coincide and interact together. Another idea Smith has is to start local programs or possibly generate a website to have access to events going on in the Cedar City area. Smith said for his opportunity goals he wants to focus on tech jobs, promote local businesses and higher paying jobs. Along with the local businesses he wants to increase tourism and create a welcome atmosphere for new programs. Smith said that his current objectives to running his campaign are making personal ar Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, speaks during visit SUU to speak to students about academics. He will also the Netroots Nation progressive bloggers conference in Las have SUUs Outdoor Engagement Center named after him Vegas, Saturday, July 24, 2010. Reid, an SUU alumnus, will this year. SUU prepares for Senate Majority Leaders visit to campus: By GINNY ROMNEY (Its an honor) to have one of your own as ... the Senate majority leader. Benson said he will share the stage with Reid and ask him questions. Hes going to talk about how a kid from Searchlight, Nev. somehow came here, went to Utah State and got a law degree and is now arguably one of the most powerful people in the government, he said. Benson said a center affiliated with Reid will also be launched at gromneysuunews.com Sen. Harry Reid, will visit SUU for a special convocation Sept. 1, President Michael T. Benson announced in an Aug. 18 press conference. In just a few days, we will welcome to campus, arguably, our most distinguished alumni, Benson said. See SMITH, Page 4 this time. Jon McNaughtan, the associate O. director of the Michael Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, said the Outdoor Engagement Center will be named after Reid. This has been in the works for several years. The Leavitt Center is not directly involved with the event because Reids visit will focus on academics instead of politics, McNaughtan said. Ray Grant, Distinguished Fellow-o- Creative and Engagement Convocations director, said Reid will open in a very special wa the 30th anniversary of Convocations. The titled A Convocation, Conversation with Senator Harry Reid and SUU President Michael Benson, is scheduled for Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Hunter Conference Center Great Hall. Politicians, vendors argue over firework laws romero By mckenzie mromerosuunews ASHER SWAN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL Fireworks shoot out into the Cedar City sky during July, the first time fireworks were allowed in Utah. Sen. John Valentine said he would like the firework law altered again. in-a- ir com A state senator is looking to scale back fireworks options made available by this years new law, but a Cedar City businessman believes the economic boost made the change worth it For the first time, aerial repeating fireworks are legal in Utah, and available for sale and use during the complete month of July. However, following the months pyrotechnics enough complaints of noise disturbances have been made to Sen. John that he has announced Valentine, intentions of lobbying in the 2012 legislative session to put at least a degree of the prior restrictions back in place. Valentine said he has received complaints from all over the state, almost all of which addressed noise disturbances by fireworks being set off in the middle of the night and the ability to light olf fireworks for an entire month. He said he would like to address those issues, while still allowing aerial fireworks. 'Ive received over 100 15 actual letters, I estimate complaints from emails and probably a dozen phone calls, he said. While he hasnt received any complaints from Cedar City residents, Valentine said about six people have contacted him from Washington County. The majority of complaints are from the Wasatch Front. Managers and employees at the Cedar City Lin's store are already planning to contact Valentine, opposing changing the fireworks law back. David Cheney, general merchandise manager for the Lins store, said there was a boom in business through the month of July thanks to fireworks sales. We had record sales, he said. We sold tons of fireworks that we had never sold before, it was an incredible boost for our store. Cheney said it would be a mistake to change the fireworks law back. He reported that between 23 stores in northern and southern Utah, the corporation is looking at an estimated $1.5 million in revenue connected to fireworks sales. These sales weie made possible by the new inventory as well as extended selling time, and Cheney said he knows the sales tax will benefit the state. The Cedar City Lins, as well as Lins in St. George and Hurricane, saw sales increases in all store inventory, not just fireworks, ; Cheney said. It definitely brought people in, he said. It was good for everybody. Valentine said the bill is still in the planning stages, and emphasis will be placed on the economic repercussions of the proposal. Im actually asking out Legislative Research General Council staff to see if they can break down the revenue that would have gone to other states (from fireworks sales), he said. Ive talked to the Retail Grocers Association, they are reporting that their retailers had very brisk sales, they support an extended selling time. Sen. Casey Anderson, 28, said he hasnt heard any word of businesses beneiiung from fiieworks sales, and has only received one fireworks complaint, which came Loin a New Harmony lsident. The concern was fire related, and to my knowledge there were no problems with fire in the state of Utah, he said. The tUes we did have came from fireworks that are still illegal. He called changing the fireworks law back See FIREWORKS, Page 4 "I , UlifiilUk University Journal debuts new section The University Journal has a new section devoted entirely to the great outdoors surrounding SUU, to give readers an idea what fun activities can be done during the weekends. Every Thursday edition of the University Journal will feature upcoming activities and experiences to give students an idea of activities around the state. Outside, Page 7 T-Bir- ds open new season at home r i i a i p r The SUU volleyball team will host the Crystal Inn Thunderbird Tournament Friday and Saturday to begin the upcoming season. SUU will host Utah State, Boise State, Pacific eight-gam- e and Drake in a two-datournament beginning at 11 a m. Friday and ending at 7 p.m. Saturday. will be the only team to play four The games ir the tournament. Head coacn Debby Baker said she believes the team is ready to open the season at home and build on the success of last year. Sports, Back Page Weather Update Look for skies sunny through the weekend. Highs will be in the h 90s, while lows will be in the 60s. Almanac, Page 8 Index Opinion 10 5 Outside Sports 7, 8 Back Page, 11 News 3,4,6, v- |