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Show NORTHERN UTAH STANDARD-EXAMINER FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1996 LOCAL NEWS EDITOR: 625-4220 Olympic transit not so bad afterall C1 UTAtaking notes on Atlanta to help Utah ready for 2002 Games By DON BAKER newest and best-conditioned buses to assist in transporting people to the Olympic pic family” group of Olympics officials, systems in New York and London athletes, coaches, and press members. He also said he learned some valuable lessons about the need for clear understandings on who is responsible for what, the importance of having good communications and the necessity of checking re- venues. Standard-Examiner staff After five hectic days in Atlanta observing mass transit, Olympic style, Utah Transit Authority spokesman Bill Barnes returned to Utah last Tuesday packing a yes and a couple of nos. Yes, said Barnes, transportation is a giant challenge given the scope of the summer games and the sheer number of spectators. No,the transit situation is not nearly as bad as recent news reports have indicated, he said. The UTAhas lent Atlanta's Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit Authority 20 ofits Barnes said a Seattle-based company Utah also has the 2002 Winter Olympics looming on the horizon, and Barnes also was taking a few notes that might prove useful in six years when the transit authority will have to deal with its own three-Olympic-ring traffic circus. On the public transit side of things, which involved moving spectators to and from venues, he said MARTAwas able to resolve most difficulties quickly. “There were problems,” Barnes said, “but by and large, things seem to be working out quite well.” The well-publicized transportation problems you've been hearing about in the news reports, he said, involved a separate system set up to haul the so-called “Olym- that is not a public transit authority involved in daily bus operations was contracted to handle the “family” transportation. “That transportation had some significant problems” during the first few days of the summer games, the UTA spokesman said, “and because it involved the press, that’s what you’ve heard most about from the media. “But the company made some adijustments, and the situation is getting better,” he added. Barnes said he ran into visitors whoreported the Olympic transportation demand in Atlanta was no worse than the daily crunch experienced on transit sources in advance. “Some of the buses sent back to help out were not in good shape,” Barnes said. He stressed Utah's Olympic planners have not formally asked or contracted with UTA to become involved in the 2002 Winter Gamesyet. But it’s certain the transit authority will have to take some kindofrole, and Barnes said there was one lesson to be learned that Northern Utahns will have to deal with someday: “If you don’t like big crowds,” he warned, “then don’t go to the Olympics.” Group wants to save their feathered friends BUSINESS SPORTS NEWS BEAT Pizza party Morgan girl gets party $10,000for being positive 2B Roy Days They're coming Saturday 2B AT A GLANCE Girl admits killing her mother SALT LAKE CITY -A 14-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to homicide in the February strangling of her mother, whose body was discovered in a shallow pond near the Jordan River Jessica Kaddourah has been sentenced to Decker Lake Youth Center, where she could reside until she is 21, Salt Lake County District Attorney Neal Gunnarson said Thursday Killed was Donna Kaddourah Shelton, 40 Two of Kaddourah’s friends both 14, have pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for allegedly helping dump Shelton’s body. Both were ordered to undergo a 30-day evaluation and perform community service Police believed Kaddourah strangled her mother with the cloth tie from a bathrobeafter the two argued aboutthe girl not returning to their West Jordan home on time Feds maysell government town DUTCH JOHN - Legisiation proposed by Rep. Bill Orton to convert this tiny northeastern Utah town from federal to private and local ownership is being hailed as a workable compromise The Daggett County community of 700 was built for construction workers during the Flaming Gorge Dam project DUCKS IN A ROW: These are some of the birds the Duck Savers Clubintends to look after at the Ada Lindquist Fountain on the Weber State University campus. Keeping ducksfrom foul play () Three youngsters want to care for the had the idea ofcreating the Weber State Duck Savers Club. GDEN- The three youngsters who Ossi into the president’s office at Weber State University had serious business on their mind — summerjobs and the safety of ducks. It all started when 1 1-year-olds Chris Shaner and Jeff Bukovick and 12-year-old Jamie Shaner found an injured bird at the Ada Lindquist Fountain. The picturesque fountain, known by most as simplythe duck pond,is a favorite summer hangout of the kids. And a favorite hangoutfor birds migrating through the area. Anyway, the good-hearted trio decided if they didn’t do something aboutthe injured bird,it would die. So they took it to the Ogden Nature Center to be cared for and eventually returned to Then they wonderedif maybe the university would pay themfor looking after the ducks since nobodyelse was doing it. Not ones to pass up an Opportunity to make a dime, they brashly marched into the president's office to present their proposal. The president was out of town, but one ofhis assistants spoke to the youngsters and gave them the bad news. By law, they were too young for the university to hire But if they wanted, they could be duck saver volunteers, they weretold. Although disappointed, they accepted the nonpaying offer. “Somebody's got to do it,” Chris Shanersaid. » See DUCKS/2B By BRYON SAXTON New Clearfield park | Clearfield has purchased 10 acres from the Davis School District to develop a park similar to Layton Commons Park. CLEARFIELD - When it comes to parks, Clearfield wants to Have something in common with Layton. Clearfield has agreed to purchase 10 acres from the Davis School District at 850 S. 1500 East to develop a “leisure park” similar to the popular Layton Commons Park, just west of Layton High School. Layton’s 47-acre park, the home of the Ed Kenley Amphitheater, includes a children’s playground, a fenced duck pond and walking trails. Clearfield has yet to come up with a plan for the new park. But officials said the yet-to-benamed park, which would be the city’s third largest, will be deSigned in a natural setting. City Manager Jack Bippes said the land has wetlands that have to be incorporated into park landscaping. The property, owned bythe schoo! district since the 1970s, Was originally bought as asite for a new clementary school. But a growth slowdown in the area put the school on hold “What we have to do is look | | HIAFB. Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau 193 Say oe \a < 15) &| Antelope tiers Clearfield \ 4\ N government proposed privatizing the town 10 years ago. At that time, proponents said such a move would save taxpayers $900,000 a year Walters said the town cannot immediately afford to assume responsibility for all Dutch John services until a tax baseis built up through sale of private homes and attracting businesses Murder-suicide DUCK SAVERS: After finding an injured bird at the pond, Chris Shaner (left), Jamie Shaner and Jeff Bukovick decided to form the Duck Savers Club to look after the welfare of the ducks. OgdenIRS safe from Dole Clearfield wants to have a park just like Layton’s to develop ‘leisure park’ House Resources subcommittee hearing in Washington Thursdaythat the on the back for being such good Samaritans, they By PAT BEAN Sendarde -— ] City will buy 10 acres from Davis Schoo! District and other federal agencies County Commission Chairman Sharon Walters told a the wild. Afterwards, while they were patting themselves ducksthat flock to Weber State pond £ MICHAEL GOODWIN’ Standard-€ xamunes into a crystal ball and see where schools are needed. Sometimes we miss,” said Bruce Williams, school district business adminis- trator. “We were happyto get it sold.” And Clearfield is happy to own it. “We have always identified that area for a park in our master plan,” Bippes said. The city set aside $92,000 to buy the land, but was able to reduce the price through negotiations “I'm very excited to have a >See PARK/2B After the damwasfinished in 1964, the government retained ownership in order to house employees of the Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation (] Candidate’s announcement notlikely to affect center, officials say By STEPHENJ.SIEGEL _ Standard-Cxarmuner correspondent WASHINGTON When Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole said in Pennsylvania Wednesday he wanted to “do away with the IRS as we know it,” it was a guaranteed applause line in most places — but not at the IRS in Ogden The Internal Revenue Service maintains a service center for western states in Ogden employing about 4,000 people, and Dole’s comments could be interpreted as a proposal to eliminate many of those jobs. But don’t start worrying just yet. Neither the Utah congressional delegation nor IRS managers at the Ogden center see any cause for alarm. Doug Green, spokesman for the IRS Service Center, dismissed the talk as just campaign rhetoric. “This happens every four years,” he said. “I don't think the IRS has ever commented on pending legislation, and | think the reason is what they say and what they doare different.” Green also said the IRS is already going through “massive budget restructuring and down- sizing, so this is nothing new.” For example, he said, the Salt Lake City office has been reduced so much it is no longer a district-level office, but is below a newly established district office in Denver The Service Center employes about 5,800 peo ple during its peak season, and about 4,000 the rest of the ume Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, said the Ogden cen- ter wouldn't be cut in any event becauseit collects tax returns. Bennett, who is one of four senators helping Dole prepare his tax cut and simplifica tion plans, said the candidate’s proposals for res- claims couple SALT LAKECITY Police believe a 78-year-old man shot his wife as she sat in a chair and then killed himself The bodies of Vivian Speers 79, and Elmer Speers were discovered by their son Thursday evening tructuring the internal revenue code will probably makeit easier for taxpayers to complete their tax returns and comply with the law In one futuristic scenario, a simpler tax code and an upgraded IRS computer system could calculate a taxpayer's bill and send it their way Salt Lake City Police Lt Dennis Tueller said it appeared Eimer Speers used a .22-caliber pistol to kill his wife and then himself The couple's son told police they had been having a hard “In that kind of circumstance, there will still be jobs, but a different kind,” Bennett said time lately and that Vivian Despite the comforting words, the Republican desire for tax simplification possibly by wiping Out most deductions and tax rates could conflict with a desire to keep IRS employment humming in Ogden, the delegation acknowledges. about three months ago Bennett, for example, has expressed some interest in a consumption tax, which would replace the income tax entirely with a levy on goods and services. He agreed that such an overhaul would put jobs at risk have declared a 6,700-acrefire Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, declined to say whether tax reform would have a negative impact on Ogden, saying it was “speculation” since Dole has not even formally issued his proposal Instead, Hansen suggested that Congress continue hearings into the subject of tax overhaul and work to “make sure both taxpayers and employees are treated in a reasonable manner.” Hatch said he supports the concepts of a simpler tax code and a redefined IRS, but refused to Speers had broken her hip Zion wildfire in mop-up stage CEDARCITY Firefighters burning in Zion National Park contained, and will continue to Strengthenfire lines over the next several days Containment of the Wildcat Fire in Zion Park burning in tinder-dry ponderosa pine scrub oak and Drush was declared Wednesday evening On Thursday, firefighters continued to mop up hot spots on the north end of the blaze Standard-Examiner staff and wire services comment further until he has had a chance to study Dole’s recommendations in depth Bennett, too, cautioned against worrying, say ing that implementation of any such reformis at least two years away. “We're not going to replace the present tax code overnight,” he said. “I don’t think any IRS employee has to worry about his or her wb Fe Standard-EXaminer reporter Charies Trenteiman ‘ ontrthuted to this ‘wy Call 625-4240 to leave a message, comment, question or news tip STANDARD (GEBEIBES 2 HRSA Day |
