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Show Baa-Baa black sheep have you any wool? No sir, nary a curl. Not only are these not black, they are shorn and headed up the highway to find sweeter HATCH Hope Dalton, one of the four women working at the Garfield County Visitors Center just south of Hatch is enthusiastic over the promise of a better year for tourism. Dalton says that the visitors seem happier this year and less concerned about "getting home on time."- 1 She and her co-workers opened the center May 1 this year, two weeks earlier than last year's May 15. The center is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, with each worker spending a four-hour shift at the center. Besides Dalton, the other three workers are Velma Huntington, Marcie Dutton and Dorothy Barney. Dalton says the work is enjoyable and that meeting people from other countries is the "most exciting aspect of the job." In 1984, the Hatch center hosted 13,762 visitors in 5,397 vehicles who spent 15,438 nights in Utah. During the same year, the visitors center in Panguitch hosted 18,963 people in 7,018 vehicles who spent .22,951 nights in Utah. The Hatch center, sitting on a hill overlooking a beautiful area called "The Flats," has dozens of brochures and cards and large clean rest rooms. The "information Jadies" with their world of facts about southern Utah are more than willing to share with all who enter. They believe that this week's launching and inauguration of service of the John Atlantic Burr ferry on Lake Powell promises to increase tourism in southern Utah. In the central part of the county members of the Scenic 12 Chamber of Commerce recently elected new officers and placed signs and brochures along Highway 12 from its junction with U.S. 89 to Boulder. Members are meeting regularly and have "additional plans to promote existing experiences for the traveler along Highway 12," said Vickie Ahlstrom, chamber president. Bob Benfield, chairman of the Garfield Travel Council said, "the plans for our second Annual Bryce feed and a place to relax. Tourism Up in Area Says Center Worker Canyon Rim Run set for August 24 are proceeding on scheudle, and," he said, "we are prepared for an even larger turnout this year." |