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Show News SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7, 1996 Manufactured homeowners can reduce earthquake damages The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released a pamphlet, Minimizing damage and repair costs to manufactured homes during an earthquake, that can help owners of manufactured homes save their investments and their lives. Nationwide, nearly a half million families live in manufactured housing in areas at high risk for earthquakes, said Maureen Kennedy, (Administrator of USDAs Rural Housing Service). Many of these homes are in rural areas, and many first time home buyers are turning to manufactured housing because its affordable. We want to make sure homeowners know what they can do to help ensure that housing makes it through an earthquake safely. Research on the Northridge, California earthquake of 1994 showed that nearly half of the homes were damaged because they shifted or were toppled from their support systems. Other homes were destroyed by fires fed by propane or natural gas supply lines. Homes falling from the support system and landing on the gas meter and the water heater fallingfrom its compartment typically cause severed gas connections that can result in fire. HUD says that manufactured homeowners should consider the following tips to reduce damage. (Cheapest options are listed first) Keep axles and hitches under the home following installation to prevent the homes complete collapse during a quake. Fasten piers to their footings and to the main beams of homes to keep them from jumping off the piers in the event of a quake. Secure the water heater and other large appliances to wall studs of the appliance compartment. flexible gas Install a six-foconnector between the gas supply and the home to allow for movement. Install a gas detector or gas shut-of- f device that can stop gas flow to the home in the event of a gas leak. Stabilize the home by installot ing ground anchors and tie- down straps according to the manufacturers installation in- structions. Reduce shifting with an earthquake-resistabracing system andor an earthquake resistant foundation. Install homes on permanent foundations in areas with extreme earthquake risk. For a copy of HUDs pamphlet nt call The Rural Development mission area of the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides funding and technical assistance to rural Utah communities to increase economic opportunity and quality of life in areas of greatest need. Smokejumpers assist in health emergencies Even when they arent fighting wild fires, smokejumpers find opportunities to help in emergencies. Such an opportu- tered a group of young people gathered around a girl who was having a severe asthma attack. Kevin Labella is, like many smokejumpers, a qualified emergency medical technician (EMT). He quickly sized up the situation and started to organize assistance. Helped by Steve Bierman and Todd Bryning (also EMTs), the at stationed rarily he calmed the girl and evaluated to to Panguitch airport respond finher condition while other wildfire emergencies, were ishing a fitness run on the Na- smokejumpers ran to get Park vajo Trail in the early evening. Service assistance, relay mediNear Sunset Point, they encoun- - cal equipment, and get the girls nity occurred recently when smokejumpers from the McCall Smokejumper Base in Idaho assisted in a medical emergency in Bryce National Park. The smokejumpers, tempo- Advisory Board needs replacement aspirator from the groups camp. A Park Service EMT arrived promptly, but allowed Labella to continue directing medical assistance. The smokejumper EMTs administered oxygen, and continued medical assistance with the aspirator when it arrived later. The young victim improved, and the Panguitch ambulance ar1997. If you have an interest in the rived soon after. The smokejumpers praised the economic development ofKanab work with to time the and quick response of the Park SerCity, vice and the Panguitch ambusubmit the board, please your belance, minimizingtheir own role application to the city office in the affair. fore 11 a.m. on August 16. There is an opening on the Economic Development Advisory Board to replace Marlin Brown, who has asked to be replaced. His term expires in April, film 95-9- 6 production sets state record Governor Mike Leavitt is proud to announce the recordsetting economic impact generated by film production in Utah. The records for fiscal year of 1995-9- 6 show that film companies spent approximately $95.7 million in the state, which exceeds figures for any previous year. This is a wonderful accomplishment for Utah and the Film Commission. Utah is a state with unparalled beauty and scenic diversity, as well as accomplished said crews and actors, Leavitt. The $95.7 million spent in Utah has undoubtedly assisted Utahs booming economy and aided in the states job growth. The economic impact is calculated through production totals for features and teleand vision, both from comproduction panies, commercials, video, Babbitt proposes new Grand Canyon scenic flight rules Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena recently announced new proposed rules to restore natural quiet to Grand Canyon National Park. The proposed rules include new management tools for the Park, including n curfew for a daily tour flights, an expansion of the dusk-to-daw- Parks flight-fre- e zones from 45 at Grand Canyon. Julie Gale, the Trusts Washington D.C. representative, worried about the rules effectiveness in several key areas. The newly proposed rule compresses air traffic into smaller corridors without limits on the number of flights, creating sacrifice zones in areas where tour flights are allowed. The proposed cap on flight numbers is based on the current level, which is nearly double the level of 1987. Gale expressed dismay also that the rule was silent on incentives to convert the tour fleet to less noisy aircraft. The overflight issue received national attention on Earth Day, 1996, when President Clinton admonished the FAA to act swiftly to answer Congresss 1987 requirement to restore to 87 of the Parks area, and an annual cap on the total number of commercial overflights. Grand Canyon Trust, a Flagstaff Arizona-based conservation group has been leading the charge for over lOyears, callingfor commercial overflight restrictions at Grand Canyon. "This announcement is a very welcome one, said Trust president Geoff Barnard. We have always strongly supported the expansion of flight-fre- e natural quiet. The proposed zone curfews that protect the rules will be subject to a y sunrise and sunset experiences public comment period. 60-da- in-sta- te out-of-sta- te industrials, still photography, and the Sundance Film Festival. The numbers include hotels, motels, restaurants, and numerous support services used by filming companies. production activa made ity significant contribution to this years economic impact as well. There were seven feature films made by local companies. In addition to the direct eco- Lasso a great deal at DEMY'S In-sta- te nomic benefits, these com- panies serve as a training ground for crew and talent, contributing to the stability and growth of the local film community. According to Leigh von der Esch, director of the Utah Film Commission, a total of seven films were made by companies, which resulted in an economic impact of $29.8 million. By having Utah comwe are able panies film to keep local crews and talent working. For example, a decade ago local hires accounted for at most 50 on a production. Now, it runs as high as in-sta- in-stat- te e, 90. In addition to feature films and other movie work, several major motion pictures were filmed in Utah this year. Independence Day, was filmed on Bonneville Salt Flats, Wendover and Skull Valley, Invasion of Privacy and Unhook the Starts, were also filmed in the state. P All shirts, pants, hats, boots, belts, buckles, chaps, ropes & tack 1 FIF Come in & see our wide selection of Cowboy fixin's! Sale runs from August 5 through September 30, 1996. jS3 |