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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2000 Community Utah to ie seen in southern California Read to your children! I 'k. Domestic Blitz By Dixie Brunner Going for the gold Ive been watching the Olym- athletes who make a slight misfor the and have take pics during their competition-th- e past week, been amazed at all the different competitions. There are medal contests for everything from synchronized diving to beach volleyball! And they offer such complete coverage. They not only feature the sporting event, but also provide some little tidbit about the participating athletes. Often what theyre reporting isnt really that interesting or important, but peppered with dramatics, the re-por- ter makes the segment heavy with emotion. As Jana Bodosky prepares for her triple flip with a front roll, whispers reporter to tele- vision audience, "lets just meet the inspiration for her success-he- r pet turtle Max. They just love athletes who have some sort of real or imagined handicap or impediment. Its really amazing when you watch this young man, comments one sportscaster, his voice heavy with emotion. To think that hes achieved everything he has, even after being bom (Chariots of Fire playing dramatically in the background.) Youve got to feel sorry for left-hande- d. reporters quickly trash them. They dont ever give credit to the athlete for all the good stuff they do, they only focus on the bad. I watched one Television viewers in southern California will be treated to a series of Utah images during the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney. The Utah Travel Council has produced two new television commercials that will air during the games on KNBC-Tthe NBC owned and operated television station in Los Angeles. This is a great opportunity for Utah to reach our strongest domestic market and an Olympic audience, says Dean Reeder, director of the Utah Division ofTravel Development V, tumbler do the most amazing moves, something like 25 flips in a row, and unfortunately, landed with her heel on the white foul line. Well there you have it folks, Travel Council). twelve years of intensive train- (Utah e Twenty-ninpercent of Utahs ing down the drain. domestic visitors What was she thinking are Californians, adds Reeder. Jack? I mean making such a commerThe new mental mistake. cials focus on that What is the criteria for be- people have ofimpressions Utah. Particicoming an Olympic sport any- pants of recent focus groups, way? Are they just events which surveyed by the Division in require the full commitment, New York and Los Angeles, dedication and discipline of the indicate that the western state participants? Then I have a few is well known for its mounfamily events which Id like to tains and large families. add to the list. The spots speak to those perOlympic ceptions, says Reeder, who exThis would obviously be a plains that the Utah! brand has womens only competition. much more to offer including Olympic garage race the emotional triggers of rejuThis would be an interesting venation and discovery. Viewcontest to see which family ers will see ofred rocks, images member takes my garage park- cultural golf diversity, gardens, ing spot first. courses, river running and other Olympic dish washing outdoor adventures. Thered be no participants One of the commercials, from my house. dubbed Cowboy Luge, shows a group of cowboys on road sleds in southern Utah. Oneweath- out-of-sta- te 30-seco- nd bed-maki- ng Family literacy... get successful! By Lisa Livingston Did you know that childrens literacy levels are strongly linked to the educational level y the of their know Did that mother? you parents-especiall- other factors such as income level and marital status can predict success in school, but not as much as having a mother, who has completed high school? Literacy used to mean the ability to read and write, today literacy encompasses problemsolving skills and higher-leve- l reasoning abilities. In order to promote literacy in our community, it is imperative that primary caregivers receive instruction and gain mastery over the written word. There are many literacy programs throughout the state of Utah to promote literacy, and here in Kanab there is an adult did you know that you have Americorps members in your community? They are willing and able to help find a program or create one that will help you and your family with the awesome task of taking on the writ- ten word. If there is an interest in the community, the Americorps now it will be Utahs turn to have the Winter Olympics. The whole world will find out were more than big mountains and big snow. In the spot, the point of view video of a cowboy on a road luge dissolves to a shot of a person on the bobsled and luge track at Utah Olympic Park. This memorable spot was designed by the Divisions advertising agency, Harris and Love, to surprise and disarm the viewer, says Reeder. Its always fun when viewers realize theyve been taken for a ride, he says. Funding for the spots came from a special appropriation from the Utah Legislature. The commercials will run a total of 30 times during the Summer Olympics. The airtime and production costs total about $900,000. We applaud lawmakers efforts for this opportunity to promote the state to once-in-a-lifeti- an Olympic audience, says Reeder. The commercials urge visitors to come to Utah, referring to the state as the official playground before, during, and after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games." Utah tourism ambassador and Park City resident Merlin Olsen narrated the ads. Viewers are referred to the Utah Travel Councils Internet web site at wrww.utah.com for more information. By Lisa Livingston Read to your chikten, especially those children who are young enough to sit on your bp. Reading aloud can be very relaxing for you and yuur child as heshe finds comfort in being dose to you. Listening to a parents voice is very soothingto children, and so, ifyou read aloud to your child every day, you give them what they need parental doee-nes- s and exposure to the written word. Get a library card! You may net have buckets of money with which to purchase books, but you can get a library card. Surrounding children with written material helps them to feel comfortable with written expression. Take your childrengrandchildren to the library and let them look at the books. Help them to choose books and then read them together. Read a book yourself! Children watch what you do and they imitate you even if you dont want them to! Let your children see you reading. Share the reading experience! When your child reads something. be interested in the things heshe is learning. If you have read something that is particularly interesting to you, share it with your children. Turn the TV offi We havelost the art efreadingin this country because of the stimulus that comes from bein g with electronic equipment television, computers, Ninetenda games, etc. Now more than everwe need to bring reading bad;: home and make it an experience that we share. COMPUTERIZED PICTURE CAKES Bring in any, photograph, picture or drawing and we'll put it on your next party cake! Team Party VISTA in Kanab is willing to set up a program for parents of two to who can come together with their preschoolers to learn about prefour-year-ol- ered cowboy says: Pretty soon ds literacy skills such as vocabulary building and verbal expression, as well as child nurturing and behavior management skills. If you have an interest in this, please call Lisa Livingston 8 or Karen Glazier at at Pets Make it a Kopyjet Cake Anniversary 644-257- GLAZIERS 644-255- 1. It is absolutely critical that all children learn how to read and read well if we expect them literacy program available to function successfully in the through the library. Americorps VISTA has been committed to 21st century, Janice Dole, State programs such as these from Reading Specialist, Utah ' ' Education. Office of the inception of the progratii- Graduat0n Retire mrd tap" 264 S. 100 E., Kanab, UT 84741 7 (435) .644-502- 9 |