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Show cs The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Sunday, June 20, 1999 OCU ~~ ww With 87 Utahns DeadSince 1994, Motorcyclists Need To Take Care TOs ao lU A numberoffactors can help improvea rider’s chanceto survive crash BY KELLY KENNEDY and MICHAEL VIGH THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Todd Snow Richardson was astride a motorcycle on a warm Sundaynight, waiting for a traffic signal to turn green, when a pickuptruck slammedinto the backofhis bike. Richardson, 39, suffered near-fatal injuries in the Salt Lake County accident, and after a year of reha- bilitation, the fatheroffive still cannot return to his law practice. The 52-year-old pickup truck driver recently pleaded guilty to third-degree felony driving under the influence. Wilford Lynn McCuillogh, whose blood-alcohollevel was 0.28 — 3% times the legal yet — is awaiting sentencing, scheduled for June Douglas Pizac/The Associated Press Jessika, 9, a member of Salt Lake Community and Self Sufficiency Center's Troop Blue, sponsoredbypolice officers, proudly wears Girl Scout sash presented by Sandy Troop 434. ‘Troop Blue,’ and Police Officer Leaders, Offer Homeless Girls a Chance to Belong Unusual Scout group offers deprived children mainstream experiences BY KAREN OWEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cops don’t often get requests for hugs. "The kids are always excited when they find adults who they think can help them and who they can relate to. Their shelter, two little girls emerged parents are somewhat emotionally absent from But recently, as an officer checked IDs andscattered loiterers outside a Salt Lake homeless and demandeda cuddle. to give out badges every month, rather than oncea yearas in most troops. And leaders try to ease the transition by emphasizing the importance of new friendships. The group is also getting to know scouts from a different background. On Monday, a treop from Sandyvisited the shelter for a joint meeting. The Sandy troop brought Girl Scout sashes for the shelter girls. their lives.” After all, the woman in blue wastheir Girl Scouttroop leader. Thegirls belong to Salt Lake’s only group of homeless Girl Scouts, nicknamed “Troop Blue” Troop Blue gave out candy necklaces they had made and served Jenny Beckstrand Scout volunteer for the female officers who are RBNERAS their leaders. The members, about30 girls between the ages of 7 and 15, live at the Salt Lake Community and Self Sufficiency Center run by the Travelers’ Aid also get paid trips to summer Society. And for them, Girl Scouts is a rare shotat stability. “The kids are always excited when they find adults who they think can help them and whothey can relate to. Their parents are somewhat emotionally absent from their lives,” said Jenny Beckstrand, a shelter employee and troop volunteer. In the shelter, each family sleeps in a single room. They share a bathroom and kitchen campnearProvo provided by the Girl Scout Council. For these girls, who may not have the flashlights or five pairs of underwear required for overnight camps, sponsorship means more than just an entry fee and the sheltertries to help out. ‘Last year one little girl couldn't even take herpillow to camp becauseshe andhersister shared it,’’ Beckstrand said “We're already rummaging through donations trying to come up with everything they'll need.” Butshesaysit’s worthit. Until that evening, most of the girls had never been out to eat, said Beckstrand. But on this night a group of Westminster College three months. If members decide to continue with Girl Scouts after “They used their napkins correctly, said ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and askedlots of questions,’’ Beckstrand said. “I think they had more fun getting ready to go. They fixed their hair special and did their nails,” Members of the troop, which was founded 10 years ago and has hadpolice volunteers since 1990, leaving the shelter, the national organization sponsors them for a year. Troop Blue includes immigrants from two African countries, a girl from New Jersey, girls cles. Community organizations, such as parks and recreation,also offer courses. Most important, Schaerrersaid, is that drivers not drive in weather conditions they can't handle, drive faster than they know howoron roads thatare too difficult for them. “You need to know the capabilities of your bike and of yourself,” he said. A frequenttopic Schaerrer addressesin his classes is inattentive car drivers not seeing motorcycles. The courseinstructors pass out bumperstickers that say: Start seeing motorcycles. “Cars tend to crowd motorcycles because they don't think they need as much room,” Schaerrer said. ‘Follow them ata safe distance, don’t drive in their blind spots and give them the full use of their lane.” ers, Hernandez said police officers through the years have never failed the girls, always making sure there are capable replacements when they move on. The tradition continues with troop for a month or two,” said Lillian So the group holds ceremonies Salt Lake Community College offers an 18-hour course that costs $100. They provide the motorcy- she can play with the othergirls without being bothered. But theyall say one ofthe best things about scouts is their lead- sistant, Angie Porte! — bicycle cops who once were Girl Scouts themselves. “Wejust want the girls to know we are here for them,” Findlay Program specialist howto scan the road for hazards. fun. The girls say they love the singing and dancing, the field leader Debbie Findlay and heras- Hernandez, Girl Scout Outreach Schaerrersaid the majority of motorcycle fatali- They also teach basics, such as how to turn on a curve by leaning rather than turning the tire, and dren’s lives really are. At a recent trip to the zoo, Beckstrand’s girls had to wait outside a special exhibit watching other troops go through becausethey didn’t have the entry fee. For the most part, however, meetings are a chance to have who havebeenat the shelter for seven months, girls wholeft the shelter and returned and girls who could be gone tomorrow. “Thegirls are often in the troop applied his brakes, possibly because he had hit the curvetoo fast. The back tire went out from under the two men, causing them to slide 242 feet — into a curb, over a sidewalk, into a boulder and back on the road. drivers or an animalin the road. Jessica, 7, says she loves that vision, a chance to meet. It also students had used their extra dining credits to borrow a banquet hall and served the troop steaks on the school’s best china. They loved it. “Motorcycle accidents are generally worse for two reasons: less protection than someone in a car has and people over-exceed their abilities,” Schaerrer said. ‘“It soundslike this guy was capable ofless than his motorcycle was.” Ruedy was a passenger on a Suzuki sports bike that his friend had bought four days before. As the two were driving west on Red Cliffs just past Eastridge Drive, they came upona sharp curve, said St. George police Officer Sherman Stebbins. The driver road burn. Roadburn is basically a third-degree burn — that skidding can bring the temperature up to 300 degrees,” Schaerrersaid. ‘Wearing long clothing adds anotherlayer that heat has to go through.” All new riders should take a motorcycle course, Schaerrersaid. There, experienced riders can evaluate new riders’ skills and teach them better ways to handle dangerous situations, such as reckless car the best. learned. provides some constancy when the average shelter stay is about rer, training coordinator for Salt Lake Community College’s motorcycle-driving courses. The helmetprotects riders from both head and neck injuries, which can cause death or paralysis. Longpants and shirt or jacket protect riders from like,” she said. Such meetings can be a rude reminder of how different the chil- her older brother can’t come and and sang all the way home. Then they sang camp songs for weeks. I Safety. Thosestatistics do not surprise Mark Schaer- oneto ride a bike.” nail polish the other Girl Scouts The troop gives the girls, who aren't allowed to play outside their rooms without adult super- ter their week and they laughed But with the Scouts, the girls get a chanceto practice for a different life. For one recent project, troop leaders held a clinic on manners and etiquette, then took the girls out to use what they had injured, according to the Utah Departmentof Public “If you have no riding gear whatsoever, you are accepting lot of risk,” Schaerrer said. “You would wear a helmetto play football — you should wear samerock stars, hair ribbons and couldtell they had a great time.” one of two communaltables. “Last year I picked them up af- Eighty-seven people have died in motorcycleacci- dents in Utah since 1994 and many more have been @ Wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. @ Take safety course. @ Knowyour limitations. cookies and punch. But mostly, the two groups just got a chance to hang out together. “These are normal little girls,” Beckstrandsaid. “They like the trips and the companionship. An 8-year-old named Deena who recently returned to the shelter says she remembers a marshmallow and cookie craft project with 30 other families and eat at This month, paramedics treated a 24-year-old man in St. George after a motorcycle ha’ dragged him nearly the length ofa footballfield. Jeffrey Ruedy was wearing only shorts and a Tshirt, and had no helmet, police say. He survived, but his injuries included extreme road rash and head trauma. ties involve new riders and no helmets, butall riders should be following these rules: @ Use a helmet. said The girls see the cops as role models, Beckstrandsaid. All American | © 23 hour tolk time Favorites * 100 name/number ‘ nyCall I5 3 O % off * American Star Reg. $90.00 REEL TAD GALLERIA REEL bs 18 Dd OAT also available. 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