Historical Figures of Camp Floyd Come Alive



FAIRFIELD - Come and meet the famous and well-known historical figures at Camp Floyd State Park on March 11, 2006. General Johnston, along with Porter Rockwell, John Carson, Native American's and a Pony Express Rider, will greet visitors and tell stories of their time at Camp Floyd. The event will run from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Actors in period attire, will tell their tales from within the historical buildings at the park, where they worked and lived. Visitors will have the opportunity of talking and asking questions of the actors who will be portraying their character in the time period of 1858 - 1861. History is fun when it comes alive!

Established in 1858, Camp Floyd was then the largest military post in the United States. The army was sent to Utah to put down a so-call "Mormon Rebellion" which never took place. The army was recalled in 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War.

Camp Floyd State Park is located in the town of Fairfield, 22 miles southwest of Lehi on Highway 73. The museum is open Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Admission fees to the museum and event are $2 per person or $6 per family. Donuts and apple cider will also be served at the event. For more information, contact the park at 801-768-8932.



Utah Friends of Paleontology Great Basin Chapter Meeting
Thursday, March 9th - 7:00 pm
Department of Natural Resources Auditorium
1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
Speaker: Kevin Bylund
Title: "Utah's Fossil Cephalopods"



Monolithic News March 2006

The Twelfth Annual Monolithic Dome Conference
This two-day event held on Feb. 17 and 18 at the Ft. Worth Plaza Hotel in Ft. Worth, Texas included a full day of classes and workshops, a meeting of MDBA members, a tour of Monolithic's headquarters in Italy, Texas and a banquet dinner with guest speaker David B. South. http://www.monolithic.com/conference/index.html

Monolithic Dome in Oklahoma Wildfire
While a wildfire quickly consumed five homes in Marlow, Oklahoma, it barely scorched the newly constructed Monolithic Dome home of Jerri and Darrell Strube. Nevertheless, seeing what family members and friends endured proved painful for the Strubes.
http://www.monolithic.com/domenews/2006/okfire.html

Beggs, Oklahoma ISD Builds New Monolithic Dome Gym
Residents, both young and old, recently cheered at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication of a new gymnasium in the small, rural community of Beggs, Oklahoma.
http://www.monolithic.com/domenews/2006/beggs.html

First Airform Inflated at Miami, Florida Church
More than a hundred spectators, various dignitaries and the media listened as David B. South described the inflation of an Airform while it was happening. That Airform inflation, accompanied by a celebration, took place at Upper Room Assembly of God Church. After experiencing Hurricane Andrew, both members and leaders of that congregation opted for structures able to survive hurricanes.
http://www.monolithic.com/gallery/churches/upper-room/inflation/index.html

Check It Out - For the latest on Monolithic Domes and related topics check our website. New articles, profiles and discussions, as well as updates of old ones, are posted weekly.
http://www.monolithic.com

FOURTH OF JULY IN UTAH'S STATE PARKS

Salt Lake City - It may be February, but it's almost the Fourth of July to many anxious campers and Utah State Parks and Recreation reservation agents.

Because state park reservation policy allows campers to reserve individual campsites up to 18 weeks prior to their date of departure from the park, campers can begin reserving for the Fourth of July Weekend Thursday, March 2.

The Utah State Parks reservation number from within the Salt Lake calling area is 322-3770. Outside the Salt Lake area, call toll-free (800) 322-3770. Customers may reserve up to three campsites per call.

"Though it still feels like winter, we suggest campers start planning early for the upcoming season," commented Nichole Mallory, reservation manager. "During summer months, reservations are strongly recommended, especially for parks such as Jordanelle, Bear Lake, and Wasatch Mountain."

Individual campsite reservations must be made at least two days in advance of arrival date. An $8 non-refundable reservation fee is charged for each site reserved. Group site reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance. A $10.25 non-refundable fee, along with a per/person fee is charged for group sites and building rentals.

For more Utah State Park information, please visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov .

Solar Conference Scheduled- Public Invited

Date: Thursday March 23 and Friday March 24, 2006
Location: Red Lion Hotel Salt Lake
161 West 600 South
Salt Lake City, UT, US 84101

Technical Workshops featuring:

· Outback Power

· Uni-Rac

· Xantrex

· Southwest Wind

Registration fee: $50 payable by credit card. Once you fill out the registration form, a Carmanah representative will contact you for your credit card number to ensure your credit card security.

The registration fee includes:

· Technical training from leading manufacturers

· Lunch

· Draws and door prizes

· Solar tour of local grid tie system

· Welcome reception on Thursday night

· Please enter the information for each person who will be attending the seminar by March 9, 2006.

Lodging

We have reserved a block of rooms at the seminar venue. To book your room, please call The Red Lion Hotel Salt Lake Downtown and ask for a Carmanah Technology/Utah State Energy Association hotel room. Individual reservations may be made by calling 1-800-RED-LION. The direct line to the Red Lion Hotel Salt Lake Downtown is 801-521-7373.

We are also pleased to offer you the following special rates:
$68.00 -Single or Double Occupancy, $73.00 Triple or Quad Occupancy

(Please note: The above rates do not include tax or gratuity. Sleeping room rates are net non-commissionable and exclusive of applicable taxes currently at 12.46%.)

Registration Form

http://www.carmanah.com/registration/utah_training_seminar.aspx



UPCOMING UTAH STATE PARKS EVENTS

March 2 - May 31 Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum - Blanding
A Gesture of Kinship: Photographs from Moab artist and author Bruce Hucko. His display revisits the Navajo children from the 1980s exhibit and book A Rainbow at Night. The exhibit features photos and audio reminiscences exploring growing up in the later part of the 20th century, a time of great change on the Reservation. A reception for the public and for the families featured in the exhibit is scheduled for March 2. For more information, please call (435) 678-2238.

March 4 Antelope Island State Park - Syracuse
Open Access Day: Trail restrictions are lifted to allow visitors the opportunity to hike or horseback ride into remote areas of the island. Shed collecting is allowed at this event. A $10 backcountry permit is required per person, and no pets are allowed. To request a permit, please call (801) 773-2941. Wildlife is coming out of the critical winter period and visitors are asked to view wildlife from a distance. The park is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For additional information, please call (801) 550-6165.

March 4 Rock Cliff Nature Center/ Jordanelle State Park Francis
Track Me If You Can! Join the park naturalist from 10 a.m. to noon and learn basic tracking skills necessary to understanding local wildlife. Bring snowshoes or borrow a pair from the park. Pre registration is required. Day use fee is $7 per vehicle with up to eight people or free to Utah State Park pass holders. For more information call (435) 782 3030 or (435) 649 9540.

REWARD OFFERED FOR POACHED DEER ALONG COLORADO STATE LINE



MOAB, UTAH--The Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is asking the public for help in identifying the individual or individuals responsible for poaching two deer near the Utah/Colorado state line on or around Friday, February 10th. Workers discovered one of the deer on February 13th and reported their finding to DWR law enforcement.

District Officer Joe Nicholson responded, locating a doe and yearling buck that had been shot and left to waste. The deer were shot just east of the state line along 1.8 road, which accesses the San Arroyo and Bitter Creek areas of the Book Cliffs. The individuals responsible for shooting the deer made no effort to salvage meat from either animal and one of the deer was shot repeatedly before a fatal wound was inflicted. "There's no excuse for this type of disregard for wildlife and the individuals involved will be aggressively prosecuted when located," reports Nicholson.

The DWR is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for this wildlife crime. If you have any information related to this case you can contact Officer Nicholson directly at 435-820-6015 or contact the DWR Southeastern Regional Office at 435-636-0260. Informants will be kept anonymous upon request.

BEAR POACHING RESULTS IN FELONY CONVICTIONS



BLANDING, UTAH--On Tuesday, February 14, 2006, two Blanding juveniles were convicted of three counts of wanton destruction of protected wildlife after shooting three bears without a permit. Seventh District Juvenile Court Judge Mary Manly found the teens guilty of three felony counts apiece; and sentenced each one to 30 days detention, 600 hours of community service, $1500.00 restitution, and $450.00 in fines.

Convictions stem from an incident on November 12, 2005, when the boys participated in a bear pursuit exercise for dogs. After the pursuit ended and the dogs and handlers had vacated the area, the boys shot the treed sow and her two cubs and left them to waste. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Conservation Officer Chris Rhea received a report about the dead bears and after a follow-up investigation, identified the shooters and obtained their confessions of guilt.

Black bear poaching is serious crime with jaw-dropping consequences. The combined penalties amount to 60 days detention, 1,200 hours of community service, $3,000 in restitution and $900 in fines. If that isn't enough, both boys become "restricted persons" and cannot possess firearms for hunting or sport. Even if their criminal records are expunged sometime in the future, they still face years of hunting privilege revocation.

If you witness a wildlife violation, please call your public safety dispatcher or the "Help Stop Poaching Hotline" at: 1-800-662-DEER. Wildlife is a heritage, enjoyed by and belonging to us all. Let's not allow ourselves to be victimized by the lawless actions of a very small minority.



Tate Publishing Announces Release of The Back Country Horseman's Guide

Tate Publishing has announced the release of a new book by local author, Bruce Kartchner. This book is an excellent resource, which provides directions and trail conditions to Utah's premiere horse riding and hiking trails. The Back Country Horseman's Guide is a reference guide to 50 or more trails in Utah's urban, rural and wilderness areas.

According to Rita Tate, the Marketing Director for Tate Publishing, "We are excited about The Back Country Horseman's Guide and want to introduce it to as many market venues as possible. We believe the book appeals to both the serious equestrians and the causal weekend rider."

"At Your Leisure" produced by Chad Booth & Co. for ABC Channel Four and Channel 30 - KUWB had this to say about The Back Country Horseman's Guide: Bruce Kartchner has taken his riding experience and written a book for horsemen. All of Bruce's riding adventures, his favorite trails, even the secrets of his own secluded hideaways where print, human foot or horse hoof, are seldom seen. All of them are compiled into 'The Backcountry Horseman's Guide', a complete volume that points riders in the right direction, and gives them more information than they may have thought existed about the trails that meander through our public lands. Other recreationalists, such as hikers, bicyclists, can also use the book. The real value of the guide isn't the hints or history, or even the information that helps you to be a safe rider, it's the invitation it offers to explore the lands that belong to everyone; the chance to get off of the beaten path and discover the world from the back of a horse.

Bruce Kartchner has lived all of his life in Utah. His family (including his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather) all raised livestock within the state. He has been a member of Back Country Horsemen of America and served as President of the Utah affiliate, and a National Board member.



Ogden Nature Center's 13th Annual Birdhouse Contest and Exhibit "For the Birds"



Nature lovers, designers, artists, craftspeople and others who give a hoot about birds are invited to enter their hand-crafted birdhouses and paintings in the Ogden Nature Center's 13th Annual Birdhouse Competition and Exhibit. Entries will be received Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7 at the Nature Center's Visitor Center at 966 W. 12th Street in Ogden. Artists of all ages may enter up to two works and there is no entry fee.

Stoke your creativity and bring us your finest birdhouse - whimsical, beautiful, practical, functional, artistic or magical. Please be sure your birdhouse entry can last through the summer weather. The exhibit will be on display outdoors April 22 through August 31, 2006 so visitors to the Nature Center may enjoy the exhibit.

All birdhouses must be on a post and ready to "plant." Paintings must be no larger than 8.5" x 11" and matted; birdhouses must be the subject of any two-dimensional art. Entries must be original creations and will be judged by an interdisciplinary jury. Winners will receive awards at a reception and awards presentation on Wednesday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact the Ogden Nature Center at 801-621-7595.

The exhibit's main sponsor is the Utah Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.


Five juveniles ordered to pay $7,500 restitution in rock art vandalism case near St. George

St. George, Utah - Five juveniles charged with third degree felonies by the Washington County Attorney's Office for vandalizing a popular petroglyph site near St. George have been ordered by the court to pay $7,500 in restitution.

Two boys and three girls were charged with third degree felonies under the State of Utah's Cultural Sites Protection Act for scratching names and obscenities into the Land Hill petroglyph site in May, 2005.


At the time of the incident the juveniles were ages 15, 16, and 17. Two of the five admitted to the charges in December 2005 while the remaining three admitted to them on January 18, 2006. Four of the individuals received 188 hours of community service and 30 days detention. The fifth
individual received a fine of $750 and 30 days detention.

The Washington County Attorney's Office in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management was seeking $7,500 in restitution costs. The restitution sought was the cost of paying a professional rock art conservator to mitigate the damage done by the juveniles and to reimburse
the BLM for the reward for information that lead to the conviction of the juveniles. At the restitution hearing February 23, 2006 the court ordered the juveniles to pay the $7,500.

The damage to this rock art site cannot be permanently repaired. A professional rock art conservator will be hired to "inpaint" the scratched areas, which will make the vandalism less apparent. Since it will be exposed to sunlight, wind, and rain, the inpainting will only
last about five years. It will then have to be retouched.

Land Hill is part of the Santa Clara River Reserve - a 6,500-acre area of public land collaboratively managed by the Bureau of Land Management, City of Santa Clara and City of Ivins in part to protect archaeological resources of Land Hill. The area contains a high
concentration of rock art, some of which is more than 5,000 years old.

BLM law enforcement officers investigating the vandalism received several valuable tips from the public after information about the vandalism ran in local and statewide media.

OLYMPIC OVAL TO HOST SPEEDSKATINGS BEST



The Utah Olympic Oval will host the 2006 Champions Challenge following the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 12 will be a weekend of laying it on the line at the Utah Olympic Oval as the world's best long track speedskaters will attempt to win prize money by setting World, National or Personal Records. The Oval expects a large number of Olympic participants with cash on the line.

"To see many of the world's best long track speedskaters compete for prize money at the Fastest Ice on Earth will be a great experience, especially following the 2006 Olympic Winter Games" said Marc Norman, Utah Olympic Oval director.

Race Schedule:

Friday, March 10 - Noon start time

500m Men (1st Race)

500m Women (1st Race)

1500m Women

5000m Men

Saturday, March 11 - Noon start time

500m Men (2nd Race)

500m Women (2nd Race)

1000m Men

3000m Women

3000m Men

Sunday, March 12 - Noon start time

1000m Women

1500m Men

5000m Women

10000m Men

B Division races to follow each competition day

Come see the 2006 Olympic speedskating medalists at the Utah Olympic Oval March 10 through 12. Admission is free to the public.

The Utah Olympic Oval is located at 5662 South Cougar Lane (4800 West) in Kearns.

For more information on this event or other activities at the Utah Olympic Oval please call (801) 968-OVAL or visit our website at http://www.olyparks.com .

GET ACTIVE UTAH - FITNESS CHALLENGE KICKS OFF AT OLYMPIC OVAL

Utah Summer Games and Check Your Health "Challenge" Utah Residents to be Active

Saturday, March 4, 2006, Check Your Health and the Utah Summer Games invite Utahns of all ages and fitness levels to attend the kickoff for the 2nd Annual Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, UT.

Lt. Governor Gary Herbert will kickoff the event at 12 p.m. with a summer games torch lighting ceremony followed by a one-mile walk or skate. Participants who participate will receive an Olympic pin. They will then be invited to take part in one of several free physical activity clinics providing a chance to learn speedskating, hockey, soccer, strength training or other activities. The Utah Jazz Bear will also be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures. The event is free of charge. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. and concludes at 12 p.m. Clinics may fill up fast so get there early.

The Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge is part of an initiative to combat obesity in Utah and is supported by the partners of Check Your Health (Utah Department of Health, Intermountain Healthcare, KUTV2 News "Fresh Air") and the Utah Summer Games.

For more information on the Get Active Utah! Fitness Challenge, please contact Kyle Case with the Utah Summer Games at 435-865-8421, case@suu.edu or the Check Your Health hotline at 1-888-222-2542. The Utah Olympic Oval is located at 5662 South Cougar Lane (4800 West) in Kearns. For more information on this event or other activities at the Utah Olympic Oval please call (801) 968-OVAL or visit our website at http://www.olyparks.com .

FLY FREESTYLE ATHLETE TO COMPETE IN FIS FREESTYLE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN RUSSIA

Fly Freestyle athlete Chloe Dauwalder has been invited to represent the U.S. at the FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships March 3-6 in Krasnoe Ozero, Russia. In Russia Chloe will compete against the rest of the world for the Junior World Championship title.

Currently Chloe is ranked tenth in the U.S. Women's Freestyle Aerials, first in the U.S. Junior division and 6th at the Junior International Level (ages: 15-20).

Chloe was born on December 20, 1989 in St. Charles, Illinois. Her family moved to Utah in 1995 when she was 5 ½ years old, and she was starting Kindergarten. She lives in the town of Alpine, Utah and currently attends Lone Peak High School as a Sophomore. She is on the High Honor Roll, and currently is the only Sophomore taking 2 AP classes (Advanced Placement), which are reserved for Juniors and Seniors.

In the early years Chloe enjoyed the sport of gymnastics, and rose to the occasion of being the State Floor Champion for 5 consecutive years, in levels 5 (2 years), 6, 7, 8, and placed 10th in the Region for her Floor performance in Level 8. She ended her gymnastics career as a Level 9 gymnast, a true accomplishment for someone only 13 years old, especially since Level 10 is at the college level. Chloe tired from gymnastics and wanted to pursue her interest in cheerleading. She is now a star competitive cheerleader for Utah Elite Cheer (Sandy, UT) where the team placed 3rd last year in Orlando, FL.

In late July of 2003, while Chloe's mother and sister awaited her arrival from volunteering as a 'counselor-in-training' at a Christian Camp in Wyoming, they went to visit the Utah Olympic Park, a first time adventure for both. As they watched the athletes perform their flips and twists into the pool, they just knew that Chloe would love to try this and they signed her up to attend a 3 day camp, to see if she might like this as her sport-of-choice.

At the end of the camp, her coach (Chris "Hatch" Haslock) came to Chloe and her parents and asked if she could continue the summer training until the first of October, and then they would evaluate where she was at at the end of the summer training. Chloe had climbed to many heights (literally) and was able to 'qualify' 2 separate jumps to compete in the upcoming winter season--that was doing a repetition of 125+ jumps of each skill, to perfection, to qualify the jump. We still had only one problem…. Chloe had never really skied before, never had been on a chairlift, nor made it down any type of run.

Coming into her first season on the snow, her coaches took her under their wing and began teaching Chloe the fine art of skiing, which began early in December 2003.

"She was like a duck-in-water, and grasped the concepts easily and quickly," said Chris Haslock Fly Freestyle director.

Then the coaches had to get Chloe on the ramps so that she could begin working the skills from the water training sessions and convert that over to the snow. It wasn't long before she was perfecting her jumps on the snow ramps and landing them with confidence.

On February 4, 2004 she was now entered in her very first competition in Freestyle Aerials.--and only her second day on a 'big hill'. This was the Moscow-Utah Winter Games (Deer Valley), where she placed 4th just under the 3 Russian athletes. Astounding! She went on and completed her first season at the US Freestyle Championships (Heavenly, CA), the end of March of 2004 and placed 6th overall, and 1st in her age group.

Her second year of summer training began again at the Utah Olympic Park, where she began working her jumps into the pool, and she was able to qualify 2 new jumps for the winter season of 2005. She placed 1st in the Utah Winter Games in both sports of Freestyle Aerials and Big Air. In the Junior Olympic event she placed 1st in the J-2 age group in Aerials (2nd overall) and 2nd in Big Air-J-2 (3rd overall). Again she was invited to compete in the US National event (Park City) where she came in 12th place overall, 2nd in her age group, after she had some minor stints with her landings. This was the event where Chloe had competed her very first double flip jump (Lay-Tuck), which, according to the rules, you are able to do when you turn 15.

In the 2006 (late December of 2005) season, Chloe started her competition season by being invited to compete in the US Selections, which is the precursor to the Olympic Trials. On her first day of competition, she placed an amazing 2nd place, beating out all but one of the US Ski Team Members. On day two, she was met with some adversities and place 5th overall for the 2 days of competition. She was invited to be a 'forerunner' (for exhibition only and for the judges to establish their baseline for scoring) at the Olympic Trials in Steamboat, CO on December 30th, 2005. Again, she competed her double jump landing it perfectly.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2006 UPCOMING EVENTS AT OLYMPIC PARKS

Feb. 28 - Mar. 5, Luge Junior Nationals, Utah Olympic Park

Mar. 3, Freestyle Intermountain Divisional Championships Big Air/Aerials, Utah Olympic Park

Mar. 3-4, Visa Winter Series #4, Utah Olympic Park

Mar. 8-11, Ski Jumping Nor Am Jr. Championships, Utah Olympic Park

Mar. 10-12, Champions Challenge, Utah Olympic Oval

Mar. 11, Freestyle Big Air/Aerials Competition, Utah Olympic Park

Mar. 11-18, Freestyle Junior Olympics, Utah Olympic Park

Mar. Junior Olympics, Soldier Hollow



Bull Elk Permits Could Increase in 2006

Many of Utah's big game hunters, especially elk hunters, might be excited about Division of Wildlife Resources' recommendations for this fall's hunts.

Big game populations in the state are doing well, and the DWR is recommending that permits be increased for many of Utah's big game hunts.

Limited entry bull elk permits would increase the most. The DWR is recommending 2,017 limited entry bull elk permits for 2006.

Plans that will guide the management of deer in Utah over the next five years also are being revised, and the DWR is looking for public input about proposed changes to the plans.

People can learn more about the recommendations and provide their comments at a series of upcoming meetings. Citizens representing Utah's public Regional Advisory Councils will take the input received to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets April 6 in Salt Lake City to approve big game hunting permits for this fall's hunts.

Meeting dates, times and locations are as follows:

Southern Region
March 14
7 p.m.
Beaver High School
195 E. Center St.
Beaver

Southeastern Region
March 15
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
885 E. Main St.
Green River

Northeastern Region
March 16
6:30 p.m.
Uintah Basin Applied Technology College
1100 E. Lagoon St.
Roosevelt

Northern Region
March 22
6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City

Central Region
March 23
6:30 p.m.
Springville High School
1205 E. 900 S.
Springville

More Elk Permits

Limited entry bull elk permits would increase the most under the DWR's recommendations. The DWR is recommending 2,017 permits for 2006. In 2005, a total of 1,554 were offered.

"The number of permits that can be offered is based on the average age of the bull elk hunters took on limited entry units the previous fall," said Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the DWR.

"Each elk unit in Utah is managed with an age objective," he said. "If the average age of the bulls taken on a unit is above the objective, then more permits can be offered for that unit."

At the request of the Utah Elk Management Plan Advisory Committee, in 2004 the Utah Wildlife Board lowered the age goals on many of Utah's elk hunting units. Units that had been managed to keep bulls at between 7 to 8 years old are now managed to keep the bulls at between 5 and 6 years old. Units that had been managed for 5- to 6-year-old bulls are now managed for 4- to 5-year-old bulls.

The 15-person committee included representatives from conservation and sportsman's groups (including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife), the Utah Farm Bureau, land managing agencies, and Utah's Regional Advisory Councils and Wildlife Board. Jim Karpowitz, who now serves as the director of the DWR, was the committee's facilitator.

"The committee was looking for a way to allow more hunters to hunt bull elk, but to still allow those hunters to take a nice, mature bull," McLaughlin said.

Lowering the age goals allowed 283 more limited entry bull elk permits to be offered in 2005 than were offered in 2004.

"Even though more permits were offered last fall, the average age of the bulls hunters took is still way above the age goal on almost every unit in the state," he said. "That's good news for hunters because it means more permits can be offered this year."

McLaughlin says the DWR is still waiting for age data from hunts that were held at the end of the hunting season, but he doesn't believe that data will change the division's recommendations.

"We have more than 80 percent of the data in right now," he said. "If the remaining data tells us that we need to change our recommendations, we still have time to do that before the Wildlife Board meets on April 6."

More Pronghorn Permits

The DWR is also recommending an increase in pronghorn antelope permits. The DWR is recommending 846 permits for this fall's hunts. A total of 587 were available in 2005.

Most of the permits would be available for the Plateau unit in southwestern Utah.

"The buck to doe ratio on the Plateau unit is more than 80 bucks per 100 does, so there's plenty of bucks for hunters to take," McLaughlin said. "The goal for the unit is 1,500 pronghorn. About 3,100 pronghorn are on the unit now, so the herd is doing great."

Buck Deer Permit Increase

Under DWR recommendations, the number of general season buck deer permits would begin moving back to the 97,000 permit cap that was started in Utah in 1994.

In 2005, general season buck deer permits in the Central and Northeastern regions were cut by 1,000 permits each because the three-year buck to doe ratio in each region had fallen below the minimum of 15 bucks per 100 does called for in Utah's Deer Management Plan. As a result, the statewide permit cap was reduced from 97,000 permits to 95,000 permits.

After hunts this past fall, DWR biologists found that the buck to doe average in the Northeastern Region had increased to 15 bucks per 100 does, the minimum number called for in the management plan. In the Central Region, the average increased to 14 bucks per 100 does.

"Based on the findings, we're recommending that 1,000 permits be added to the Northeastern Region for this fall," McLaughlin said. "That will increase the total number of general season buck deer permits in Utah to 96,000 for this fall."

Permit Recommendations

Permit numbers for 2005, and the number of permits the DWR is recommending for 2006, are listed below:

2005 2006

General season buck deer 95,000 96,000

Premium limited entry deer 174 179

Limited entry deer 768 813

Limited entry bull elk 1,554 2,017

Pronghorn antelope 587 843

Moose 117 138

Rocky Mountain goat 64 89

Desert bighorn sheep 35 34

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep 11 15

Bison 28 17

A breakdown showing the total permits for each unit will be available at the DWR's Web site (wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings) before the RAC meetings. Once you're on the site, go to the Meeting Agenda portion to find the permit numbers.

Deer Management Plans

Management plans for the state's 30 deer hunting units also will be reviewed and revised at the meetings. The long-term goal to have more than 426,000 deer in Utah may take more time to reach than originally thought.

"Since the plans were first written in 2003, Utah has lost some of its winter ranges and we've learned that some of the winter ranges we have can't support the number of deer that we first thought they could," McLaughlin said. "As a result, we believe the long term goal needs to be adjusted slightly."

The new plans propose short-term goals that would result in about 400,000 deer in Utah by 2011. McLaughlin says favorable weather and work to improve winter ranges in Utah could result in that goal being met before that time, however.

Management plans for each of the state's deer hunting units will be available on the DWR's Web site (wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings) before the RAC meetings. Once you're on the site, go to the Meeting Agenda portion to read the plans.

Catch Fish, Shoot Arrows at Youth Wildlife Fair

Sandy -- It's March, but kids can still "fish through the ice" at a fishing pond at this year's International Sportsmen's Exposition.

Children can also shoot arrows, handle animal antlers and horns and participate in fun activities that are designed to teach them more about Utah's wildlife.

All of the activities are part of the Youth Wildlife Fair sponsored by the Division of Wildlife Resources.

The International Sportsmen's Exposition will be held March 16 - 19 at the South Towne Exposition Center, 9575 S. State in Sandy. The cost to attend the exposition, which includes the youth fair, is $10 for those 13 years of age and older. Children 12 years of age and younger are free.

The Youth Wildlife Fair will be held on the south side of the exposition center.

"We'll turn the fishing pond at the expo center into an 'ice fishing pond,'" says Rosemarie Carter, information center supervisor for the DWR and the person leading the division's youth fair efforts this year.

"We've drilled several holes in a wooden platform, and we'll place that platform over the fishing pond. The platform will allow kids to fish 'through the ice,'" Carter says. "Rainbow trout and catfish are among the fish the kids will be catching, and some of the children who participate will win prizes."

Carter says the youth fair is geared towards children 12 years of age and younger, but "'kids of all ages,' young and old, are invited to attend."

"We especially encourage parents to participate in the activities with their kids," Carter says. "All of the booths are interactive and are designed to teach children about wildlife. We want the kids to have fun and to learn something in the process."

For more information about the March 16 - 19 International Sportsmen's Exposition, visit

http://www.sportsexpos.com on the Web.

66°NORTH ICELAND Hits Sundance Film Festival

NEW YORK -66°North partners with the Sundance Channel for their exclusive VIP party at the annual Sundance Film Festival which took place on Tuesday, 24 January 2006. 66°North went beyond the snowy mountain-tops of Park City, Utah with its Kaldi Arctic hat keeping producers, directors, screen-writers and celebrities warm at this year's festival. This classic American event was a showcase that merged cinema and style. 66°North was a mainstay among many at the winter wonderland including hot couple Vanessa Carlton and Third Eye Blind front man Stephen Jenkins and "It" girl du jour, Scarlett Johansson who sported 66°North's Lady's Down Parka in Burnt Sienna. Julia Stiles, in town for her latest film, "A Little Trip To Heaven" wore 66°North's Vik Women's Jacket. Stiles was introduced and fell in love with the brand while filming in Iceland. Other advocates of 66°North include Ewan McGregor, Michael Bey, Quentin Tarantino, Liev Schreiber, Forrest Whittacker, professional freestyle skier, Kristen Ulmer and the President of the Explorers Club, NYC Richard Wiese. For an exclusive preview of the 66°North 2006 collection or to schedule an interview with 66°North President Sharon Prince, interested media please contact Workhouse Publicity publicist Meredith Rommelfanger directly by telephone 212. 645. 8006 or via email meredith@workhousepr.com or Kara Hughett via kara@wokhousepr.com

Since 1926, 66°North has manufactured clothing for agricultural and construction work, seamen's apparel and protective gear of many kinds as well as clothing for outdoor and leisure activities which has developed into the brand's fastest growing export line. Among 66°North's most energetic researchers are extreme athletes and Icelandic Search and Rescue teams (ICE-SAR), bands of brave men and women trained to work under extreme conditions at sea and on land, who have gained fame for their daring exploits. 66°North outfits them with the latest, most advanced gear and they test it and report what works well and what needs improvement. Akin to ICE-SAR, the renowned Mt. Washington Ski Patrol is now outfitted by 66°North, extending their testing ground in the U.S. Windproof, waterproof, new breathable materials, many kinds of fleece and other textiles undergo tough, real-life tests in this real-life laboratory. 66°North produces a line of technical outerwear, mid-layer, base layer and accessories for men, women and children. Their hallmark is the brands trim-fitting, minimalist designs which have to satisfy the demanding Icelandic consumer.

66°NORTH Iceland
Established in 1926, 66°North is considered the national clothing brand of Iceland. For over 79 years, 66°North has been at the forefront of high-tech outerwear with a collection of durable, form-fitted garments. One of the most trusted and proven brands of protective wear in Europe, each item is perfected through rigorous testing by Icelandic rescue teams, parents dressing their kids for school as well as fit, fashionable Icelanders themselves. The brainchild of Hans Kristjansson, who began producing protective clothing for the commercial fisherman of Sugandafjord, quality and performance has always been essential to Icelanders who have learned to co-exist harmoniously with nature's extremes. The name reflects the latitude line located at the edge of the Arctic Circle which intersects with Iceland at its northern most parts. Iceland, on the borderline of the Arctic Circle, has often been considered on the borderline of human habitation. Conditions can be extreme and in the course of its existence, Icelanders have had to develop both the mentality to meet the challenges and the physical means to do so. This includes discovering and developing suitable clothing for work and travel in all kinds of weather, for farmers and fisherman alike and all those who have had to brave the climate. Centuries of battling snowstorms and the windy heights to bring home sheep and fighting heavy seas to haul in rich catches of fish have seen the gradual development of even better protective gear and for more than three-quarters of a century 66°North has been a part of this development. Since 1926, 66°North has manufactured clothing for agricultural and construction work, seamen's apparel and protective gear of many kinds as well as clothing for outdoor and leisure activities which has developed into the brand's fastest growing export line. Among the 66°North's most energetic researchers are extreme athletes and Icelandic Search and Rescue teams (ICE-SAR), bands of brave men and women, trained to work under extreme conditions at sea and on land, who have gained fame for many daring exploits. 66°North outfits them with the latest, most advanced gear and they test it and report what works well and what needs improvement. Akin to ICE-SAR, the renowned Mt. Washington Ski Patrol is now outfitted by 66°North, extending their testing ground in the U.S. Windproof, waterproof, new breathable materials, many kinds of fleece and other textiles undergo tough, real-life tests in this real-life laboratory. 66°North produces a line of technical outerwear, mid-layer, base layer and accessories for men, women and children. Their hallmark is the brands trim-fitting, minimalist designs which have to satisfy the demanding Icelandic consumer. Rather than add superfluous features, they prefer to incorporate only what is necessary for peak performance. Modern materials such as eVENT, Entrant GII-DT, Schoeller and Polartec provide the utmost protection. The garments insulate while keeping a comfortable, dry microenvironment next to the skin. Children's wear is designed to match the quality of the high performance adults wear because Icelandic children live and play outside all of the time both in good and bad weather. As they say, there is no bad weather, if you have the right gear. Available at Cole Sport, Hickory & Tweed, Urban Outfitters, Fred Segal and fine stores everywhere. For more information please visit http://www.66northus.com .



2006 Opens with Record Breaking Outdoor Retailer Winter Market -

Feb. 07, 2006 - SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIF. - More than 14,000 attendees traveled from all corners of the outdoor industry last week to attend Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2006, in Salt Lake City, Utah from January 28 - 31, 2006. A record breaking 754 exhibitors of all sizes attracted a wealth of retailers, buyers and over 362 media who spent the four days testing new products, taking in the fashion shows, attending industry seminars, networking and writing orders.

"This year's show was a realistic representation of how the market is both changing and growing, as appointments and commitments were plentiful, media presence at the show grew, and the retail segment interest in this market is broadening," said Peter Devin, Group Show Director for Outdoor Retailer. "It is extremely gratifying to have so many quality-focused retailers and manufacturers interested, vested, and engaged in the Outdoor Retailer Shows."

Environmental sustainability was emphasized throughout the Show and at the Annual OIA Breakfast with an inspiring speech by keynote speaker Ray Anderson, founder of Interface, Inc., a global manufacturer of floor-covering systems. Anderson deemed himself a "recovering plunderer," and challenged an eager audience to take responsibility for improving corporate sustainability practices. Outdoor Retailer stepped up to this challenge by executing a cardboard collection program during set-up. Exhibitor and sponsor Mountain Hardwear enhanced the collection efforts, and together, OR and Mountain Hardwear collected an unprecedented quantity of recyclable packing materials.

Winter preparedness also proved to be a prevalent trend among exhibitors. Products geared toward preparedness were highlighted by exhibitors with technical apparel such as The North Face and Cloudveil, as well as gear companies such as Black Diamond.

"The Black Diamond brand is all about preparedness," said Craig Hatton, northwest sales representative for Black Diamond. "If you're prepared, your chances of survival increase exponentially."

Leading this charge was first-time Outdoor Retailer exhibitor Avalanche Backpack. The Avalanche Backpack System (ABS) keeps users on the surface of the snow in case of a running avalanche. "This product provides a 98% survival rate, so we are very encouraged to see that everyone from guides to training facilities to Snowcat operators are interested in this innovation," said Anthony Sands, president of Avalanche Backpack.

Avalanche Backpack was one of 64 exhibitors to partake in the 3rd Annual Backcountry Base Camp, held at Brighton on January 27, 2006. Several inches of fresh powder welcomed more than 1,200 attendees to experience telemark ski jumping, snowshoe testing, beacon searching, Nordic activities, guided backcountry tours and more.

Throughout the Show, the tradeshow floor buzzed with talk of the 2nd Annual Fashion Show series. Sponsored by Aventura Clothing, ExOfficio, Gramicci and Spyder, the high-powered runway show attracted a standing-room only crowd twice daily. Models showcased new trends in performance apparel, technical wear and footwear, accessories and casual clothing and footwear in a wide array of colors and innovative fabrics.

Several attendees were eager to weigh in on their Winter Market experiences:

"After 11 years, this has been the most productive show we have ever had," said Scott Leonard, CEO of Indigenous Designs. "It's been gangbusters bell to bell."

"Congratulations on a wildly successful Winter Market Show. We definitely benefited from the record turn out, our pre-show customer appointments were greater than previous Winter Markets and it only improved with walk-ups as the show progressed. Needless to say we are very satisfied," commented Jay Steere of The Timberland Company.

"Best show ever!" proclaimed Kenny Ballard, president of Kelty.

Donated Range to Help Boy Scouts Experience Shooting

NEWTOWN, Conn.--Boy Scouts across the country will learn about firearms safety and the shooting sports at a traveling air-rifle range recently donated by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

NSSF made the donation to "Boys' Life," the official youth magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. With sponsorship from the magazine, the range will be operated by certified shooting instructors at major Scouting events nationwide.

Featuring reactive air-rifle targets, the range can be used by Scouts to practice before earning their rifle merit badges.

"The rifle merit badges are a very important part of involvement in Boy Scouts," said Craig Vander Ploeg of "Boys' Life." "Thanks to NSSF, we'll be providing a fun experience for Scouts and their families, as well as helping promote safety and the shooting sports."

The range debuted at the Boy Scouts Jamboree last year and proved very popular. More than 6,000 attendees gave shooting a try, gaining positive reactions from both Scouts and their parents.

"The range proved to be such a success at the Jamboree, we just couldn't let it sit idle. With 'Boys' Life,' the range will see action at Scouting events across the country, and will help expose countless others to the fun of shooting and the importance of firearms safety," said Cyndi Dalena, NSSF director of shooting sports development.

For the past several years, NSSF has offered Boy Scouts and other youth groups a chance to earn colorful, embroidered patches through its Junior USA Shooting Team Patch program. The program is a partnership with USA Shooting. Last year, about 100,000 youths participated.

NSSF, formed in 1961, is a non-profit trade association. NSSF directs a variety of outreach programs to promote greater participation and a better understanding of the shooting sports, emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For further information, please visit http://www.nssf.org .

Expedition Safari Ratings Continue to Soar

TUCSON, Ariz. , March 2, 2006 - SCI today announced the December 2005 and January 2006 blockbuster ratings of its exciting new international big game hunting television series, Expedition Safari, currently in its premiere season on OLN.

"While outdoor television viewing typically increases during the fourth and first quarters of a calendar year," said SCI Executive Director Tom Riley, "Expedition Safari continues to demonstrate a strong ability to attract sportsmen, imprinting SCI's mission of hunter advocacy and wildlife conservation on millions of hunters nationwide. SCI would like to thank the outstanding production team at Orion Multimedia as well as the show's sponsors, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. and Mossy Oak Brand Camo, for helping make Expedition Safari's freshman season such a grand slam."

In November, Expedition Safari averaged an already-impressive .70 weekly cume household rating, equaling 442,729 households or 533,353 viewers. The series continued to improve its ratings and reach each week. At the end of November, Expedition Safari saw its best weekly rating to date, as it achieved an awesome .96 cume household rating, equating to 607,753 households or 738,838 viewers.

As 2005 closed and 2006 began, Expedition Safari ratings spiked even higher to become one of the most popular shows in the OLN line-up, with an incredible 2,520,374 cume viewer impressions in December and 2,297,238 cume impressions in January. Moreover, Saturday mornings earned the highest ratings of any of the show's weekly airings, with a bullish average of 1,192,126 viewer impressions in January. Expedition Safari scored the biggest hit with men between the ages of 25-54.

"These numbers are outstanding in their own right," Riley added. "But they are even more impressive when one considers the fact that January's numbers are based on re-airings of Expedition Safari episodes that premiered earlier in the season through December. This underscores the staying power Expedition Safari has with its national viewership, and the indelible impact it has had in the outdoor community."

Just some of the episodes aired in the two-month timeframe include a trek for pronghorn in New Mexico, a black bear hunt through the forests of British Columbia, stalking whitetails through Michigan's backwoods, elk hunting down under in New Zealand and a South Dakota pheasant shoot.

Shot in High Definition and produced by Orion Multimedia with their Emmy Award-winning editors for exclusive telecast on OLN, SCI's Expedition Safari is sponsored by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. and Mossy Oak Brand Camo. Each episode follows host Mike Rogers and some of the world's foremost guides and outfitters as they pursue big game species around the world while showcasing the richness of our shared hunting heritage and educating the viewing public on sportsmen's longstanding role in wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian efforts. For more on Expedition Safari, visit http://www.safariclub.org on the Internet.

SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI's 173 Chapters represent all 50 United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI's proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit http://www.safariclub.org or call 520-620-1220 for more information.



Cherie Call Concert this Weekend

This Saturday, March 4th I'll be playing at a benefit concert at Payson High School. The show starts at 7:00pm. The address is 1050 South Main Street in Payson, Utah. Admission is $5.

I'll be performing that night with Lincoln Highway and some other folk music performers from BYU.

Proceeds will benefit the Payson Civic Chorale. They've been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall and they're trying to raise money to get to New York. So if you live in Utah County, come check it out, it should be a fun evening!