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Show The Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, April 10, 1997 9 Local Charles and Ruth Syme celebrate 50th wedding anniversary Tourism doubled, hotel room nights nearly tripled in one year in SLC, report shows by SHARON LINSCHOTEN To say that Salt Lake area tourism is booming would be a gross STAFF WRITER It all started as a blind date for a young lady from Fountain Green and a young man from Moroni, UT. That dance began a very special relationship and on April 7, 1941, Ruth Veora and Charles B. Syme became husband and wife. Time has flown by for the couple and they reflect the past as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this week. The Symes moved to Magna. Charles is now retired from KCC. Ruth is still employed at Osborn Specialty Sewing. Their home has always been a gathering place for friends and family. Eight children grew up learning the value of involvement and being a close knit family. Hobbies were developed that invited everyone to have fun, such as camping, fishing, boating and Dutch oven cooking. The Symes have been active in by GARY R. BLODGETT EDITOR the community, Boy Scouts of America and the LDS Church, to name just a few. To date, the Symes family tree has branched out to include 37 d grand children and thirteen children. What is Ruths and Charles secret for a long and successful marriage? Never raise your voice to argue or getting angry with your spouse and being involved in your prosperity, lives bring great joy and satisfaction. As for the Symes children, Vicky Buchanan Charles (Wayne), Gordon (Carol), Kathy Jacob (Steven), Boyce E Bruce (Ruth), Dave Rick (Peggy), Sherrie Mecham (Blake), Debbie Zufelt (Rodney), 37 grand children and 13 d children, they are grateful for a blind date, a leap of faith and the example of an enduring, loving relationship of Charles and Ruth Syme HAPPY GOLDEN great-gran- great-gran- d Bear is from Magna Library bear-nappe- by SHARON LINSCHOTEN STAFF WRITER ' foot honey-coA 2 arid one-ha- lf r. uop ) ..jiUiV, iSnu ored fur, floppy bear was from the Magna Library recently. He had traveled all the way from Montana just to live at the Magna Branch. He used to be on the top book shelf reading, his favorite books in the childrens section. Patrons are being encouraged to Oi l- ' i bear-napp- be on the lookout for this cuddly and soft mascot that may have found its way to their home. It has been unbearable for the owner and other friend's who looked forward to seeing his friendly face whenever visiting the childrens section. A small reward is being offered (no questions asked) for the safe return of the bear. Also, dont forget story time on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Salt Lake County jail inmates served better food cheaper Salt Lake County jail inmates and cheaper began eating better last Saturday. That was the beginning of a new, money-savin- g partnership with ARAMARK a privately managed, nationwide services corporation that will now provide food services for the Salt Lake County Metro and Oxbow Jails. Sheriff Aaron Kennard said he has pursued alternatives in jail operations during the past five years that will save tax dollars and increase efficiency in the jails. For example, he said, when the Oxbow Jail was built, it included a large warehouse with freezing and storage capabilities. This led to significant savings in the purchase of food supplies over the past sev eral years. The addition of ARAMARK, with its enormous nationwide buying power of food, is expected to save more than $3 million in food service costs during the next three years, according to the sheriff. He noted some of the facts in the new contract: costs will be substantially lowered due to the buying power of the commercial vendor. Inmate meals cost $.76 per meal. Staff meals cost $1. Meals will include at last one hot meal per day, usually dinner, and a hot entree for breakfast. Special meals and diet meals are available for religious considerations, and to meet medical needs as approved by a physician. Per-me- al LIVIone y1?lLroveSu c c es sjJ ooo REAL PSYCHICS have Your Answers! understatement. A glance at the most pertinent facts show: The number of convention delegates visiting Salt Lake City in 1996 more than doubled, from 106,872 to 225,182. And the delegates are staying longer, nearly tripling the night-stay- s from 174,413 to 433,168. Staying longer means more economy to the city, growing from $107 million in 1995 to more than $217 million last year. And whos behind it all? Many hard working staff and volunteers of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, headed by Clifford (Rip) Rippetoe, general manager of the Visitors Bureau. Rippetoe received the coveted 1996 Tourism Achievement Award during the Bureaus annual meeting and awards banquet Tuesday at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Rick Davis, Bureau president and chief executive officer (CEO), said the big jump is due primarily to the opening of the new Salt Palace Convention Center. Another factor in the sharp rise of delegates and number of room nights was the enormous increase in the number of convention delegates and their extended stay in the city, said Davis. Both are attributed to the efforts of the Bureau's sales staff. And bookings in future years should be even more astonishing as future conventions already surpass the goals set by the Bureau, Davis pointed out. The total effect of those bookings will have an economic impact of about $176.3 million $155.8 million for conventions and meetings and $20.5 million for group tours and ski groups, he said. . None of these figures take into account the thousands of families that drift into and out of the Salt Lake area on summer and winter vacations, it was noted. Can Salt Lake City keep pace with the tourist demands? Much is being done in this direction, Davis explained. One large hotel is under construction and more are planned. Restaurants and other needed tourist accommodations are also being planned. In receiving the Tourism Achievement Award, Rippetoe and his staff were praised for bringing in more and larger conventions. The Convention Center employees a staff of 98. Rippetoe has been general manager of the Salt Palace Convention Center since 1995. Previously, be was manager of facilities at the La Vegas Convention Center; the Cashman Field Center in Las Vegas; and Pittsburgh Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Kansas. Besides directing the overall operation of the Salt Palace, Rippetoe is involved in promotion and marketing. He is a member of the Great Salt Lake Council Executive Board, and a member of the Salt Lake City Mayors Committee on Downtown Design and Development. He holds a bachelor of science degree in speech and theatre from Oklahoma State University. 1996 fraudulent scams created Year of International intrigue by GARY R. BLODGETT EDITOR There are many ways to get caught up in a fraudtilant scam business or from the next-dofar across the seas. Thats why 1996 was termed by or the Better Business Bureau as a Year of Intrigue. And when the BBB thinks it has the method of scamming licked, up pops a new scheming device one more wild, or bold, than any before. 1996 proved it. Last year we had an increase in international scams and schemes, especially in telemarketing, said Bureau President Bill Beadle. While the U.S. imposed stricter laws controlling telemarketing nationwide, con artists skipped across the border to do business. Scam artists have a multitude of ways of gaining information about you, and making you believe they are legitimate because they know so much about you. These cons prey on the elderly, and those who have come into some money. Avoid all requests for telephoning numbers with 900 or 809 prefixes. Never pay up front or expense money to get something in return. Never pay a large amount of money for a promise of a cruise or wonderful vacation. Carefully examine all invoices or billings. Do not pay for something you did not order, and do not pay for products costing more than what you ordered. Be especially careful of offers too good to be true Yes, they probably are. Although most businesses and and it is agencies are reputable not a reflection of the integrity of that industry as a whole the most complaints of fraud came from (1) auto sales, repairs and maintenance; (2) mail and telephone orders; (3) home construction, remodeling and maintenance; (4) financial and credit-relate- d organizations. Remember, dont buy, order from, or deal with persons or agencies that you not familiar with. If you want, or need their service or product, you call them at the appropriate time. To place your ad in Nigerian money marketing even placing third got into the act among worldwide schemes besides telemarketing, No. 1; and mail orders, No. 2. the 1 997-9- 8 Magna Telephone Directory, call 6 Bonnie Stahle at 250-565- Introducing ... VICTORIA WOODS APARTMENTS Brand new affordable apartment In homes for seniors 55 the most convenient location in West Valley Next to major shopping center - close to medical facilities AA o 24 sd tsf'b o o Hour Live Readings World's Occupancy Spring of 1997 1 Service (801) 955-030- 0 for more information Waiting list now forming Section 8 Welcome iiaiu COEX |