Show ©nam — akriima Ia?P' By Jo Rowley staff writer A3 Local state and regional news losthicDp foeairs vaiQQey ©emeeii'Dts ( Valley residents packed the Cache County Council Chambers Wednes-day night to gnaw on Rep Rob Bish- op’s ear In response the congressman committed to put his office’s weight behind issues such as increasing Medicate coverage and keeping Forest Service land open for snowmobilers’ use But Bishop also told elected offir dais that there were some issues he just couldn’t help “Whatldisparately need from you is input” Bishop told constituents in die town meeting Residents often know about issues hall-sty- le that are going through the Washing-ton machine before individual con- gressmen willy Bishop said He encouraged them to keep him informed about which issues are important to them Bishop said he would be an advo- cate for maintaining and improving Medicare funding Some doctors refuse to treat Medicare clients because the federal government con-tinually cuts the amount of money it will pay out Bishop said While he does not favor creating new federal programs Bishop said he believes the government should folly fond the ones it has Locd advocate for the disabled Nedra Tkylor asked about the status of the “Mi Casa” bill which would ' allow disabled people to receive care in their own homes rather than in nursing homes Bishop said he has committed to the bill when it comes to the house floor Bishop said he and other congress- men on both sides of the aisle plan to pass a Medicare prescription bill this year even though a similar bill failed last year Bishop committed similar support to members of the Top of Utah Snow- mobiling Association in an effort to keep forest land open to multiple use A d US Forest Ser- vice forest plan has slated 5000 acres of Logan Canyon to be designated to snowmobiles recently-update- off-limi- ts Kelly Leishman a member of the snowmobilers association said he realizes there is a small minority of snowmobilers that ruin relations with cross-countskiers Nevertheless the majority of snowmobilers and skiers should be able to share the land without conflict he said “Raising kids I’ve gen three boys and they fought all the time But I didn’t build a partition between them I feel like that’s what’s hap- pening” Leishman said Bishop agreed saying the forest plan cuts too much land from snow- mobiler access He encouraged snowmobilers to appeal that part of the forest plan through the regular channels and he said he would lend support by doing the same through his office In an earlier meeting with elected officials Logan Mayor Doug Thompson asked if Bishop could help Logan get around a supposed wetlands issue that prevents the city from extending 1800 North west to 1000 West The wetland area is ere ated by a man-maditch and should not be protected land Thompson said Bishop said Logan is hot the only city in his district facing a similar struggle but he cautioned Thompson not to expect too much ry de See BISHOP on A8 Leavitt says Olympic bid effort broke Duke of ASUSU sworn in to lead the rules student activities SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The two Olympic bid executives who face renewed charges of bribery acted on an “implicit understand- ing” they had to do whatever it took to win the 2002 Winter Games Gov Mike Leavitt said Thursday Leavitt said bid chief Tom Welch and deputy Dave Johnson “clearly broke the rules" of Olympic bid-ding but he questioned whether their conduct was criminal and said he wished the scandal would just go By Arrin Brunson staff writer A 1 away At a regular monthly news conference Leavitt offered his first extensive remarks on the scandal since a federal appeals court on Tuesday reinstated 15 felony charges against Welch and Johnson been thrown out by a Utah that judge Leavitt an Olympic trustee who sent a stand-i- n to board meetings said he had no inkling of the $1 million bribery scandal and would have stopped it if he had known His main function was to stand at the head of reception lines when International Olympic Committee delegates visited Utah at the organizing committee’s expense See LEAVITT on A8 In brief MflllW USU Wright Flyer back home for flight The celebration of the USU Wright Flyer’s first flight in Cache Valley will take place from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday at the LoganCache Airport 900 W 2500 North North Logan Wayne Larsen a flight instructor and agricultural pilot from Box Elder County will fly the aircraft at noon weather per- mitting In celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight Utah State University students and faculty and the Space Dynamics Laboratory designed and constructed the futuristic replica of the Wright materials Flyer using space-ag- e The celebration of powered flight will give residents of Cache Valley a choice to reflea on the past and compare it to the future The USU Wright Flyer replica project has been designated as an official centennial event by the US Centennial of Flight Commission The flyer will travel to Dayton Ohio in July to idle Inventing Flight Celebration where it will be on display During the event at the LoganCache airport there will be an opportunity for the public to have pictures taken sitting in or standing beside the USU Wright Flyer throughout the day The pictures will be $5 each To find out more about the USU Wright Flyer see the Web sites at wwwusuwrightf1yerorg and httpVfotahstatetodayusueduarchiv esmarch200303-14-03feature-03-14-03-cf- m See IN BRIEF on A8 “I 1 recent change of leaderin the ship studentbody presidency at Utah State University will bring some continuity and some changes said the newly elected leader who was sworn in last Friday Duke Di Stefano 21 a business information technologies in education major from Heber City said he will use a sense of humor strong organizational-skilland a flare for creativity to continue the efforts of previous leaders and to implement some new ideas After dabbling in class politics in high school and serving as the Utah president of Future Busi-- ness Leaders of America a national high school organization Di Stefano is not new to politics He completed an associate's degree at Dixie State College before transferring to USU “I’ve always had a desire to come to Utah State I just wanted to be im Aggie” he said In the 2002-0- 3 school year at USU Di Stefano was hired by ASUSU to do the “behind the scenes work" as an administrative assistant Running for studentbody office was a natural choice he said “It's a lot of fun to be involved to be able to see changes and to be able to help make changes" Di Stefano said The election brought a lot of issues out he said arid a glut of high quality studentbody officers will make for a promising year to come One of Di Stefano’s goals is to improve the image of the organization “On campus right now ASUSU is developing a bad connotation” Di Stefano said “A lot of the different council members are striving to get a better name out there toilet students know what we do I feel if students know what we do they'll see the reasoning behind why we do the feel if students know what we do they’ll see the rea- soning behind why we do the things we do and why we’re necessary on pus" cam- s M —I ' ‘ ' Mitch MascaroHerald Journal Stefano Is the new ASUSU studentbody president He said he hopes to Duke improve the image of the organization and encourage environmentally friendly practices on campus Di things we do and why we’re necessary on campus” Using some “creative marketing techniques" Di Stefano plans to leave the confines of his office and visit students regularly in the halls and walkways of the Logan campus He also wants to draw the attention of his constituents to the recently improved ASUSU Web site to let them know what is going on around campus Plans to work closely with new freshmen will also help make their college experiences better he said “I'm interested in what they have to say and what they want” Di Stefano said of those who elected him in March Another goal he said is to continue planning for expanding the recently opened yet frequently crowded student fitness center Another crusade during the 2003-0- 4 aqademic year will be to USU be a better steward of help the environment Di Stefano said ASUSU will examine how well the institution and its con- stituents use paper' water and green space The campus computer labs are changing to 30 percent recycled paper and when reorders take place ASUSU will encourage departments to purchase recycled paper he said “That's something the students will have a big say in and that’s something that I am taking an active role in is trying to help See DUKE on A8 Smithfield officials vote to raise water rates -- M— By Holll Weiss staff writer “It allows people to be in control of their des-tiny and be in control of SMITHFIELD — Water rates in Smithfield will be increasing for the first time since 1997 Residents will be paying $1 more pa month for the base rate and people who use more than 20000 gallons of water per month will notice even more of an increase Beginning sometime after June 1 residents wUl be charged $9 per month for the first 6000 gallons 55 cents per 1000 gallons up to 20000 gallons and 70 cents per 1000 gal- kms beyond 20000 gallons of water For residents who use less than 6000 gallons each month the increase will be one dollar per ' their water bill" ’ — Jeff Gittlns eouncllmember Smithfield r gested that the city raiserates in Oder to bring in enough money to supplement its water system he said At the same time every city in the state is encouraged to put a water conservation plan in piace and urge citizens to be frugal with their water According to city manager Jim Gass the auditors suggested a 15 percent increase in water rates The actual projected increase works out to be a hike in the base rate and he is confident that people will conserve so the new rates are actually a compromise People will realize that their water bill will increase if they're not more careful he said which may be enough to encourage conservation Tt allows people to be in control of their destiny and be in control of their water bill” Gittins said The council said they are glad that Smithfield still has one of the lowest water rates in the state but there’s little sense comparing themselves to other communities “There’s nothing we want more than to provide good (lean safe water at a minimal cost and still pay our bills” said Gittins timed system of month It’s the people who use more that will be affected the most said Councilmember Jeff Gittins However Gittins said the intent of raising the water rates is two-fo-ld After this year’s audit it was sug- - 18 percent although Gass said that’s not a guaranteed figure If residents decide to conserve water fewer people will be exceeding 20 000 gallons of water and paying the extra cost Gittins who serves on the city’s water conservation committee said r -- iim SSST |