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Show Thursday, February 23, 2006 DAILY ECKL MoreusingVegas as hub for niki a Richard N. Velotta LAS VEGASSUN Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours works witha eae ofvendors,i LAS VEGAS — Thousands of Las Vegas tourists won't set foot inside a casino this year, but will leavefootprints at Grand Canyon National a The nature-+our industry still is overshadowed by the Las Vegas Strip,but as the city has @ more common destination for international travelers, a growing number oftourists want to row boatsinstead of rolling dice, and strap on hiking bootsinsteadof cocktail dresses, _ “More and more, we're hearing from our customers that they don’t gamble when they comehere,but they still like Las Vegas for the showsand the sightseeing,” said Ken Pontone, ownerof Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours. Kevin Bagger,director of Internet marketing and research for the Las Vegas Convention andVisitors Authority, said manytourists,especially international visitors, use Las Vegas as a hubfortheir travels around the Southwest. Morethan one-fifth of Las helicopter panies Papillon and Heli-USA. Papillon flies about 200,000 pencess a year to attractions from Las Vegas, City and the south rim of the Grand Canyon, a company spokeswoman said. While the Grand Covenis oneof the most popular dest: tions in the catalog, Pontone said tours are offered to other attractions. There's a flying tour to southern Utah's Bryce Canyon andZion national parks, MonumentValley, on the Arizona-Utah border, the setting of many Hollywood westerns,also is a popular des_ tination. Pontonesaid Death Valley, the lowest pointin the United States,is a seasonal destination in the spring andfall, but tourists avoidit in the summer when temperatures routinely climb above 115 degrees. Therealso are bus tours to Red Rock Canyon and horseback riding and ATV expeditions at Valley of Fire State Vegas tourists makea side trip to an attraction outsidethe city whentheyvisit, Baggersaid. The most popular destinations include the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. The convention authority is projecting 39.1 million people will visit Las Vegas in 2006, and morethan 8 million people are expected to make somekindof sidetrip. “We're expecting a 10 percentincrease in the number of customersthis year overlast year,” said Pontone, who would not disclose the numberofhis customersin 2005. Pontone said many Asians and Europeans purchase adventure packagesbecausea tour of the Grand Canyon, for many, STEVE MARCUS/Las Vegas Sun Ashley Brooks from Virginia, top, practices rock climbing at the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area near Las Vegas,in May. is thetripof lifetime. Most rangein age from their late 30s to seniorcitizens, although there are some younger couples with children. Tour packages and destinations vary. Pontonesaid oneof the most popular trips, a day bus tour to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon,takes 13 1/2 hours and costs $89, “It's popular because you can take large groups andit’s Park, north of Las Vegas. A destination growing in popularity is Grand Canyon Weston the Hualapai Indian Reservationin northern Arizona, a two-hour drive from Las Vegas.The tribe has developed an Old West town anda display of traditional Indian dwellings. A horseshoe-shaped glass walkwayto extendover the edge of the Grand Canyonis scheduled to open by the endofthe year. “This is a great base for tours,” Pontonesaid of Las Vegas.“Peoplelike going to the Grand Canyon.It’s like when Americans go to China, they haveto go to the Great Wall.” relatively inexpensive,” Pontone said. Sometoursare for the more adventurous, with combinations ofair tours,helicopterflights, raft trips on the Colorado River andall-terrain vehicle expeditions. Oneis a sport utility vehicle tour, which includes trip to Hoover Dam and BoulderCity, a helicopterride, a boat trip and tour with six persons to a guide, costing $326 a person. DCESofficials may remain defendants in cancer-treatmentsuit THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SALT LAKE CITY — Parents of Parker Jensen may be allowed to pursue their lawsuit against state Division of Child and Family Services officials and possibly several physicians for their efforts to get cancertreatmentfor the boy against the wishes of him and his parents. US,District Judge Paul Cassell said Tuesday that he has reached “tentative ruling” that would dismiss the general claims against Utah based on governmental immunity but allow DCFSofficials to remain defendants. Cassell said he was on the fence regarding whetherto allow claims to proceed against several physicians. The Jensens’lawsuit contends the defendants conspired to force their 12-year-old son Parker to undergo chemotherapyin 2003 after a cancerous pea-sized tumor was removed from underhis tongue, and doctors said he was in danger of the cancer spreading. The family fled to Idaho said DCFS offic:>ls were trying to resolve a hotly disputed case and weresimply fulfilling their legal duty of what they thought was in the best interest of the child. Rognlie said the Jensens cannot pursue their claim without proving fraud or malice. “These people acted on information provided by doctors,” he said, adding it was a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t case” where had the state donenothing,it would be on the hook for being negligent. Cassell said the heis inclined to allow the Jensens’claims against the officials because of the parents’ allegations that theytold half-truths to a judge to obtain a court orderfor chemotherapy. The Jensens wouldstill haveto provide convincing evidencelaterif the case goes totrial. Andrew Morse,attorney for the physicians, said this was a case where physicians diagnosed, cancer,stateofficials reacted and the Jensens ignored a court order. to avoid Parker being given Jensen attorney KarraPor- chemotherapy, which they feared would stunthis growth or cause him to becomesterile. TheJensens were charged with felony kidnapping and medical neglect, but the charges eventually were dropped. The Jensens havesaid no additional signs of cancer have ever been found. The case drew nationwide attention to the issue of parental rights and the duties of states to protect children. | During Tuesday's hearing, | state attorney Peter Rognlie ter argued to keepthe doctors in the suit, adding that she anticipated that DCFSofficials and the doctorswill likely end up blaming eachother for what happened. “We're going to have a bunchof defendants pointingfingers at each other.” Portersaid. Cassell said he will issue a written ruling in the coming days. Outside of court, Parker, now 15, said he has been stay- ing busy and has become an avid snowboarder. Man chargedin Wilberger murder Slain counselor buried; suspects record disclosed court records, The FBI Web THE ASSOCIATED PRESS postingis the first time authoriPORTLAND,Ore. — The man ties have released any informacharged with aggravated murtion about how manyvictims derin the disappearanceofcol- there might be. lege student Brooke Wilberger Thealert said investigators mayhavekilled three other haveidentified three victims womenin Oregon,according that Courtney may have sexuto an alert posted on the FBI's ally assaulted and killed within Website. Oregon. Joel Courtney,39, was inIt doesnotidentify the vicdicted on aggravated murder, tims’ names or hometowns. kidnapping, rape and sodomy “Heis inclined to abduct charges. Heis in custody in white females,15 to 25 years of Albuquerque,N.M., where he age, with blonde hair and blue awaits trial on charges he raped syes, in an outsidesetting,” the a studentthere. alert said. Oregonprosecutorslabeled The description fits WilCourtney a “suspected serial berger,the 19-year-old Brigham killer” during a court hearing - YoungUniversity student who vanished from outside a Corvallast month on media access to lis apartment complex in May 2004. Her body has not been found. FBI spokeswoman Beth AnneSteele in Portland said the Webposting came from the agency’s national headquarters. It said Courtney has traveled extensively since growing up in Portland,andthereis a “high possibility” that there are other THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS TOOELE — God did not cause Raechale Elton’s death, theslain counselor's uncle told morethan 600 mourners at her funeral. Elton, 22, a Weber State University student who was working for Youth Health Associates in Clearfield, was raped and stabbed to death on Feb.15 after giving a ride to 17-yearold Robert Cameron Houston from the YHA group home to his independentlivingfacility a short distance away. Houston,whocourt records show wasconvicted offirst-degree felony aggravated sexual assault in American Forkin 2004 and the samecrimein Pleasant Grovein 2003, now faces charges — as an adult — of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault. If victims in Alaska, Florida, New Mexico and Oregon. “Lookingfor other casesis a normal part of the process,” Steele said. Oregonofficials are seeking Courtney’s extradition, but he maynot be returned until the New Mexico case is wrapped up. San Francisco investigating the powerof dog doo convicted, he would notface a possible death penalty because custody. Forhis juvenile convictions, he had received a varietyof of his age. court orders including deten- Elton’suncle, Curtis Elton, said at the funeral service Tuesday, “God does not cause evil acts.” Hesaidit was up to those in attendanceto decide how they would forgive those who tion, nonresidential community placement, communityplacement, probation, community service andrestitution. Youth Health Associates ownersBrian’ Garlock and chooseto doevil acts. Chris Hughestold a news con- “Raechale gaveherlife while helping others. There is no greaterlove,” her father, Bruce Elton,said. whichheis nowcharged. Melissa Cox said her young- er sister loved her job. “Whenshewas asked, ‘Why do you keep working there” she said, ‘Somebody has to love those kids,’ " Cox said. Houston's record disclosed Tuesday also showed con- victions for destruction of property, false identification, theft and escape fromofficial ference Mondaythat Houston never showed anysigns of being capable of the crimes for Garlock said Tuesdaythat the house wherethe slaying occurred was putupforsale on Thursdayandsold Friday. “The reasonis because no one wants to work there ever again,” Garlocksaid. YHA will continuewithits program,hesaid, but not in that home. 118 East Main * Lehi __ Kim Curtis probably getting communities THE ASSOCIATED PRESS aroundthe country the cour- The methanecould then be piped directly to a gas stove, heater, turbine or anythingelse SAN FRANCISCO — City of- powered bynaturalgas.It can ficials are hopingto harness the also be used to generateelectricity. powerof dog doo. Methanedigesters are nothSan Franciscans already recycle two-thirds oftheir garing new.The technology was introduced in Europe about 20 bage,but in this dog-friendly years ago, and more than 600 town, animal feces make up nearly 4 percentofresidential farm-based digestersare in * operation there. Nineare in use waste,or 6,500 tons a year — nearly as muchas disposable on California dairy farms, and chicken and hog farms elsediapers, according to the city. wherein the United States also Within the next few months, use them. Norcal Waste, a garbage haulNeither Norcal Waste spokesing companythatcollects San man Robert Reed nor Will BrinFrancisco'strash,will begina ton, a Maine-based recycling pilot program under whichit will use biodegradable bags and and composting consultant, dog.-waste carts toee psdrop- knewof anyonein the United States who is using the $1 milpingsat a popular dreper lion devices to convert pet The droppings will tossed into a contraptioncalled a meth- wasteto energy. But Brinton said some European countries ane digester, whichis basically 4 tank in which bacteria feed on process dog droppings along feces for weeksto create meth- ith food and yard waste. “The main impediment is anegas. ageto collect it, to give value to something we'd rather not talk about,” Brintonsaid. “San Franciscois probably the king ofpetcities. This could be very important to them.” San Francisco — thecitynamed after Saint Francis, patronsaint of animals — has an estimated 240,000 dogs and cats. Someexperts believe methanedigestion must become moreattractive economically beforeit gets popular. Landfill spaceis relatively cheap, and naturalgas andelectricity also remain fairly inexpensive. 768-9514 | | | | Kiplyn Spanish Fork High Schoolon Continued from B1 rent or former Spanish Fork residents and schoolmates, havebeenindicted on perjury charges related to her disappearance.Olsenis the only oneofthe five charged in her death. Bryson said no charges are pending against any other suspects. that continual interviewswill result in moreinformation about Kiplyn’s whereabouts awhat happened to her, he Sal | “It’s no new evidence,” | Brysonsaid Her body has not been foundyet; Brysonsaid the winter weatheris hindering the search,but thatit is continuing and should pick up as the weathergetsbetter. Kiplyn disappeared from today. With stote-oFthe-ort pee ‘and o specially trained Aention in physicianfirst, then give us @ Re tednotice oe no <all foro free consultation. 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