ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Last week Mountain America Credit Union branch managers Ele Watson and Gayla Bell presented Washington School District representative Pam Graf with a check in the amount of $11,875. The presentation took place at Hansen Stadium on the Dixie College campus during half time of the last regular season football game.

This is the eighth year in a row, Mountain America Credit Union's "Scores for Schools" program has donated money to the...
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ST. GEORGE - Mountain America Credit Union opened its 3rd location in the St. George area last month. The new location at 883 N. 3050 E. in St. George is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and the drive through is open from 9-2 on Saturdays.

     Ele Watson, manager of the new branch transferred from the Sunset Boulevard branch and is looking forward to meeting new members and helping the residents of Washington with their financial needs. Watson has been with Mountain America for over nine years.

     Tim Toy has taken Watson's place as the Sunset manager. He's been in the industry for six years and plans to be the "go-to-guy" for ...
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NEW YORK—Total magazine rate-card-reported advertising revenue for 2009 closed at $19.45 billion, an 18.1 percent decline against the previous year, reported the Magazine Publishers of America, citing data from the Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). 

A total of 169,218 advertising pages were generated throughout the year, a drop of...
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Congress has approved, and Pres. Bush seems poised to sign into law, major changes to the ADA, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The changes are designed to make it easier for someone with a physical or mental impairment to fit within the definition of disabled under the ADA.

Unlike most of the other protected employment classes, such as race, gender and age, it is not always clear whether or not a person falls within the protected class of disabled. An employer must first figure out if someone is disabled before the ADA applies to that person.

During the fifteen-plus years since passage of the ADA, many courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have ...
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Last time we began to tell you about major revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We'll continue with that topic.

The list of ADA major life activities has been expanded. The ADA continues to define disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. However, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 adds to the nonexclusive list of major life activities, which now reads as follows: "caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and ...
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There is nothing wrong with change, if it's in the right direction
      - Winston Churchill 

I believe that I was in seventh grade when I first learned that I worked best under pressure. I would be given assignments by some teachers that had vague due dates and lots of second chances. Then the other classes taught by teachers that had distinct deadlines and consequences for not performing. I performed to the level of how mandatory my teachers made their assignments.

I developed an amazing ability to "do what it takes to stay alive and thrive". I also found that I possessed an amazing character flaw allowing me to "blow off" what was not made mandatory. This ability seems to have followed me into adulthood. I am certain that there are better ways to manage life, but it seems that I am motivated most by deadlines. In my search for balance and personal growth I find that if I self impose deadlines or have other imposed deadlines and time frames for...
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A Governing Purpose ought to direct your daily goals and tasks.

– Matt Eschler

Goals have a kind of “darned if you do darned if you don’t” quality to them. We have all learned the benefits of setting writing, and following through with our goals. We have all been challenged to invite success into our lives by envisioning successful completions to our...
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A Governing Purpose ought to direct your daily goals and tasks.

– Matt Eschler

Goals have a kind of “darned if you do darned if you don’t” quality to them. We have all learned the benefits of setting writing, and following through with our goals. We have all been challenged to invite success into our lives by envisioning successful completions to our...
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ST. GEORGE, UT - Red Cliffs Mall will be a collection site for U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.  Red Cliffs Mall will collect new, unwrapped toys during the months of November and December to bring toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.  Look for the Toy's for Tots drop box located just outside of Barnes & Noble, the food court and in the center court of the mall and help bring a message of hope to needy youngsters in the community. 

"Red Cliffs Mall is proud to make the...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The gift-giving spirit will remain in full force this holiday season, according to an online survey conducted by NRN (National Research Network), approximately two-thirds of Americans say the tradition of holiday gift giving remains an important part of their holiday season. 

Red Cliffs Mall and General Growth Properties (GGP) are planning a calendar full of exclusive shopping events, and retailer...
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It’s tempting to be overly optimistic about the level of revenue your business will bring in, but the realities of your revenue stream may create an altogether different picture.

Revenues are unpredictable, and taking steps to handle your revenue stream is vital to your business success. Sales drive your quarterly budget—but revenue is the result of sales. And experts say small businesses are susceptible to losing between 2 percent and 20 percent of their revenue. So how do you...
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It appears likely the national job market will continue to soften in coming months.

A new survey by temporary worker provider Manpower says employers in the U.S. plan to hire fewer workers in the third quarter as confidence in the economic weakens.

Manpower Inc. said Tuesday that its employment gauge fell to 12 for July through September, the lowest level since the last three months of 2003. The reading in the prior quarter was 14.

According to government figures, companies trimmed payrolls for the last five months. Even so, the Manpower survey doesn't expect drastic...
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ST. GEORGE - RAM Manufacturing Company will conduct a grand re-opening, ribbon cutting and open house June 3 from noon to 3 p.m. at the RAM plant, 3172 E. Deseret Drive South.

The solenoid manufacturer has added 33,000 square feet of space and completely remodeled its production facility. The public is invited to tour the plant....
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SALT LAKE CITY - The Sixth Annual Utah Manufacturers Association Forklift Rodeo is slated for Saturday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wheeler Machinery warehouse, 4901 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City.

This year's event will again feature new Yale forklifts provided by H&E equipment, Salt Lake City. The competition encourages companies to enter their best forklift drivers to compete against other top drivers from around the state.

Based principally on safety, drivers will compete in four different events with each maneuver emphasizing ...
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SALT LAKE CITY - The Sixth Annual Utah Manufacturers Association Forklift Rodeo is slated for Saturday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wheeler Machinery warehouse, 4901 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City.

This year's event will again feature new Yale forklifts provided by H&E equipment, Salt Lake City. The competition encourages companies to enter their best forklift drivers to compete against other top drivers from around the state.

Based principally on safety, drivers will compete in four different events with each maneuver emphasizing ...
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SALT LAKE CITY - The Sixth Annual Utah Manufacturers Association Forklift Rodeo is slated for Saturday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wheeler Machinery warehouse, 4901 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City.

This year's event will again feature new Yale forklifts provided by H&E equipment, Salt Lake City. The competition encourages companies to enter their best forklift drivers to compete against other top drivers from around the state.

Based principally on safety, drivers will compete in four different events with each maneuver emphasizing ...
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SALT LAKE CITY - The Sixth Annual Utah Manufacturers Association Forklift Rodeo is slated for Saturday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wheeler Machinery warehouse, 4901 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City.

This year's event will again feature new Yale forklifts provided by H&E equipment, Salt Lake City. The competition encourages companies to enter their best forklift drivers to compete against other top drivers from around the state.

Based principally on safety, drivers will compete in four different events with each maneuver emphasizing ...
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Nominations are being sought for the "2008 Business Executive of the Year" award to be announced at the 103rd Annual Utah Manufacturer Association Awards and Installation Banquet on Nov. 1.

In 1969, the UMA Board of Directors established an annual commendation known as the "Business Executive of the Year" to honor a person for his or her outstanding contribution to the economy of Utah as well as to their community.

This award is presented to a Utahn but not necessarily a UMA member. Nominations may come from any person or group associated with UMA. Nominations should include ...
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You are invited to participate in a Manufacturing Leadership roundtable at Dixie State College, 350 South 1000 East, Room 361, St. George, April 22, 2009, from noon - 3:00 p.m. (Box lunch provided)

Ten regional roundtables are being conducted across the state to better understand the economic conditions of Utah's manufacturing sector, and to learn first-hand from manufacturing company leaders particular issues faced by their companies and in their region of the state.  

Information collected will be published in a report to the governor and legislature, as well as to the manufacturing community, and other education and local government leaders. The informatio...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - In the January 2010 issue of Runner’s World Magazine, a publication that appeals to runners throughout the United States and Canada, the St. George Marathon was recognized by readers as the most organized marathon race in the country.

In July 2008, Runner’s World launched an online survey asking its readers to...
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According to First American CoreLogic, Foreclosure rates in St. George have increased for the month of March over the same period last year.

According to recent data from on foreclosures for the St. George area, the rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans is 2.40 percent for the month of March, an increase of 1.40 percentage points compared to March of 2008 when the rate was 1.00 percent.* Foreclosure activity in St. George is higher than the national foreclosure rate which was 2.10 percent for March 2009, representing a 0.30 percentage point difference.

Also in St. George, the mortgage delinquency rate has increased. According to preview data for March 2009, 7.00 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared to ...
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The United States Marine Corps has banned the use of Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites on its computer networks.  The Marines have concluded that the sites are a "proven haven for malicious actors and content" and create a "larger attack and exploitation window" by exposing information that can be used by "adversaries."

The Marines also have expressed concerns for unchecked scams, worms and viruses on the sites. Although most employers do not have the same strategic and security concerns as the Marines, the Corps' action is food for thought. Do these sites help or hurt your worksite and employer productivity? Does your use of them increase your exposure to legal liability? The answer may be...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The Washington County Utah Economic Development Council (WCEDC) recently announced a new appointment to its Executive Council Committee.

Mark Hendrickson has been appointed by the Washington County Commission to serve on the committee. "Hendrickson is a local resident with business experience and a keen interest in economic development in the county. We are excited to have him join the committee," stated WCEDC Chairman Lowry Snow.

Mark Hendrickson has lived in St. George and Santa Clara since 1979. He attended Pine View High School, Dixie State College and Utah Valley University where he majored in Business and Finance. Hendrickson married the former Holly McArthur of Santa Clara and they have two daughters. He has spent his business career working in office products, commercial furnishing and office furniture. Since May of 2004 he has been associated with Henriksen/Butler Design Group the largest contract and commercial furnishings dealer in the Inter-mountain area, becoming a company principal in ...
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LEEDS, Utah - The Leeds Market is now open at 261 N. Main St., giving this small town its only full grocery store. Leeds Markets is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and serves primarily the Leeds-Silver Reef-Harrisburg area. Owners Todd and Sherene Muse have a combined 35 years of grocery store experience.

The TownePlace Suites will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Southern Utah Hospitality, Inc.

“We are pleased to introduce TownePlace Suites hotels in the St. George area,” said Laura Bates, senior vice president, brand management, extended stay for Marriott International. “Providing an upscale residential atmosphere, this TownePlace Suites hotel offers an appealing alternative to more standard hotel rooms designed for shorter stays.”

Ideal for travelers who need accommodations for a week or more, the 84-suite hotel offers studio, one- and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and separate living, working and sleeping areas.

Salt Lake City, Utah – University of Phoenix Utah campus will hold commencement ceremonies for 1,156 students on May 1, 2010 at The E Center.  93 of this years graduates are from southern Utah.  This year’s most popular degrees will go to graduates who will boost the number of professionals in the field of education, where shortages are a concern, and in mental health and school counseling, psychology, criminal justice, business and...
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St. George, UT, December 2008 - Linda Mattson, a Marketing Director for Terra Title Company, has been awarded the 2008 Affiliate of the Year Award by the Washington County Chapter of the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR). This annual award recognizes an Affiliate member who shares their time, talent and expertise with others in the profession and in the community.

Linda Mattson began her career in the title business eight years ago. A former REALTOR, Linda says "I believe wholeheartedly that providing the highest level of customer service is the key to keeping personal relationships of loyalty and trust with my clients." She has spent countless hours this year as the...
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CEDAR CITY - Mayor Gerald Sherratt called Cedar City's future bright during his annual state-of-the-city address last week before more than 100 local business leaders at a Cedar City Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

While national trends have caused slowing local economic growth - from 6.4 percent at the peak in 2005 to 3.2 percent in 2007 - the city is likely to see growth trends pick up steam again in coming years.

The number of building permits issued has dropped - only 201 through June, compared with a peak of 754 in 2005 - and sales tax revenue is expected to be ...
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SALT LAKE CITY - Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc recently announced the opening of an office in Salt Lake City, Utah. A community-based builder with national expertise, McCarthy is 100% employee owned. The new office begins a long-term community presence in the intermountain region and will be led by Scott Christiansen, a 32-year veteran in the Utah construction industry.
 
"Growing McCarthy's presence in the intermountain region of the U.S. has always been part of the company's overall...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Andrew McCracken, recently hired by HintonBurdick CPAs & Advisors as a senior accountant assigned to the firm’s St. George office, has passed the CPA examination, qualifying for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant.

According to Business Services partner Phillip Peine, “achieving a passing score on this highly-competitive examination is a mark of distinction and attests to Andrew’s dedication and exceptional knowledge of accounting practices.”  The exam, created and scored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) serves “to admit individuals into the accounting profession only after they have demonstrated the entry-level knowledge and skills necessary to protect the public interest in a rapidly changing business and financial environment." 

Peine went on to say that “one of our goals at HintonBurdick is to qualify our staff members as CPAs as soon as possible in order to provide the highest level of service for our clients.  We currently have 15 other employees in the process of passing the exam.”

McCracken first came to HintonBurdick as an intern while attending Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.   During that time, he says, he came to appreciate the area’s friendly atmosphere, its strong family values, recreational opportunities, year round warm weather, and scenic beauty.  He decided to enroll in the graduate program at Southern Utah University and continue working for...
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St. George, UT, May 4, 2009-Brent McDonald, formerly of Salt Lake City, has joined the law firm of Snow Jensen & Reece as an associate attorney specializing in construction, intellectual property, specifically in regard to trademark and copyright, and general litigation. 

McDonald earned his law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in California, graduating fifth in his class with high honors.  While there, he was a member of the McGeorge law review and served as student representative on the McGeorge Tenure Committee.

Before joining Snow Jensen & Reece, he was a law clerk and associate attorney with Pate Pierce & Baird in Salt Lake City, where he was actively involved in...
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St. George, UT, April 2, 2009 - Morris Peacock, managing partner at HintonBurdick CPAs & Advisors, announced recently that McKay Hall has passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and is now a licensed CPA. He works in the firm's St. George office.
 
Prior to working with HintonBurdick, Hall earned his BA Computer Science from Southern Utah University, his BS Accounting from Southern Utah University, and his Masters of Accounting also from Southern Utah University.
 
Hall spent ten years in the computer industry establishing and maintaining information software and networks, as well as other hardware and software solutions for...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - McKay Hall, a Certified Public Accountant with HintonBurdick CPAs and Advisors, assigned to the St. George office, recently became qualified as a Certified Information System Auditor (CISA), managing partner Morris Peacock announced today.

Certified Information Systems Auditors focus on the...
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Katie Terry won the honor of a spotlight with SportsBeat due to her ability to climb out of what many of us fear as the deepest canyon of tragedy. She did not receive any bailout gumption. She did not roll over and die. Instead she "hand cycled" the St. George Marathon and set the pace for all of us in the arena of achievers.

Katie Terry is a person much like many in our midst. She is a single mom with two children, loves sports, takes care of her home and family in a small Utah neighborhood, is paralyzed from the waist down, has been in a coma, plays wheel chair basketball, learned to ski, water-ski, and rock climb and runs marathons without the use of her legs.

Alright, she isn't exactly a "person like many others in our midst". She has had a series of events and circumstances in her life that she has had to adapt to. A ...
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In my last update, I wondered if the EEOC had its sights set on restaurants.  Perhaps I spoke too soon, because a few days later I learned that the EEOC had struck a deal with a national steakhouse to settle a sex discrimination case for almost $20 million. 

The EEOC had claimed that...
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ST. GEORGE - Colon Cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, after lung cancer. In 2007, an estimated 153,760 new cases of colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) were diagnosed in the U.S.

St. George Surgical Center is continually looking for solutions to better serve southern Utah, that's why the center has created a much needed department staffed with a specialist dedicated to providing quality service.

Edward J. Eyring, II, M.D., who is known for his expertise at the Center for Colon & Rectal Disease in Murray Utah, has teamed up with the St. George Surgical Center to provide ...
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Water Quality Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Water Quality Board - October 2009
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Oct 28 09:00:00 MDT 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: Work Meeting Begins @ 8:30 a.m.

       Proper Medication Disposal Program Update - Leah Ann Lamb

Board Meeting Begins @ 9:00 a.m.
AGENDA

A.              Water Quality Board Meeting – Roll Call

B.      (Tab 1) Approval of Minutes for August 24, 2009

C.              Executive Secretary’s Report - Walt Baker

D.      (Tab 2) Funding Requests:
               1.      Financial Status Report - Emily Canton

               2.      ARRA Update - Ed Macauley

               3.      Kearns Improvement District request for principal forgiveness...
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Five County EDD Revolving Loan Fund Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Five County Economic Development District Revolving Loan Fund Administration Board
Meeting Date & Time: Thu Oct 22 10:00:00 MDT 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: AGENDA

FIVE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
REVOLVING LOAN FUND ADMINISTRATION BOARD
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 AT 10:00 A.M.

FIVE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
CONFERENCE ROOM
1070 WEST 1600 SOUTH, BUILDING B
ST. GEORGE, UTAH


A.    WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF...
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Air Quality Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Air Quality Board
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Dec 02 13:30:00 MST 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: DRAFT AGENDA

I.  Call-to-Order

II.  Date of the Next Air Quality Board Meeting:  January 6, 2010

III.  Approval of the Minutes for November 4, 2009 Board Meeting...
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Subject: Loans
Meeting Title: Five County Economic Development District Revolving Loan Fund Administration Board
Meeting Date & Time: Tue Jul 21 14:00:00 MDT 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: FIVE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
REVOLVING LOAN FUND ADMINISTRATION BOARD
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2009 AT 2:00 P.M.

FIVE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
CONFERENCE ROOM
1070 WEST 1600 SOUTH. BUILDING B
ST. GEORGE, UTAH

A.     WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF...
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Air Quality Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Air Quality Board
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Dec 02 13:30:00 MST 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: Specific agenda items will be announced at a later date.
Notice of Special Accommodations: In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, individuals with special needs (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) should contact Brooke Baker, Office of Human Resources at (801) 536-4412 (TDD 536-4414).
Notice of Electronic or telephone participation: NA...
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Radiation Control Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Utah Radiation Control Board Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Tue Oct 13 15:01:00 MDT 2009 - Tue Oct 13 17:00:00 MDT 2009
Description/Agenda: RADIATION CONTROL BOARD
Department of Environmental Quality (Bldg #2),
Conference Room 101, 168 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah
3:00 – 5:00 P.M., October 13, 2009

TENTATIVE AGENDA

I.      Minutes (Board Action Item)
       a.      Approval of the Minutes from the September 22, 2009 Board...
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Radiation Control Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: UTAH RADIATION CONTROL BOARD
Meeting Date & Time: Tue Nov 10 15:00:00 MST 2009 - Tue Nov 10 17:00:00 MST 2009
Description/Agenda: RADIATION CONTROL BOARD
Department of Environmental Quality (Bldg #2),
Conference Room 101, 168 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah
3:00 – 5:00 P.M., November 10, 2009...
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Transparency Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Transparency Advisory Board Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Tue Oct 13 08:00:00 MDT 2009 - Tue Oct 13 10:00:00 MDT 2009
Description/Agenda: Not Available
Notice of Special Accomodations: Not Available
Notice of Electronic or telephone participation...
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Water Quality Board
Subject: Water Quality
Meeting Title: Water Quality Board - June 2009
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Jun 24 08:30:00 MDT 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: * Please note that the meeting time has changed to...
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Water Quality Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Water Quality Board - October 2009
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Oct 28 09:00:00 MDT 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: Details of the Agenda will be posted here and on http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/WQBoard/wqb_minutes.htm when finalized.
Notice of Special Accomodations: In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, individuals with special needs (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) should contact Brooke Baker, Office of...
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Air Quality Board
Subject: Air
Meeting Title: Air Quality Board
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Jul 01 13:30:00 MDT 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: DRAFT AGENDA

Working Lunch Session, noon – 1:00 p.m.
168 North 1950 West (Building #2) Room 201

Board Meeting 1:30 p.m.
168 North 1950 West (Building #2) Room 101

I.  Call-to-Order

II.  Annual Election of Chair and Vice-Chair.

III.  Date of the Next Air Quality Board Meeting:  August 5, 2009

IV.  Approval of the Minutes for May 6, 2009 Board Meeting.

V.  Final Adoption: Amend R307-101-2. General Requirements. Definitions. - Presented by Steve Packham.

VI.  Five-Year Review: R307-101. General Requirements. - Presented by Kimberly Kreykes.

VII.  Informational Items.
A. Air Toxics - Presented by Robert Ford.
B. Compliance - Presented by Jay Morris and Harold Burge.
C. Monitoring - Presented by Bo Call.

Notice of Special Accomodations: In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, individuals with special needs (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) should contact Brooke Baker, Office of Human Resources at (801) 536-4412 (TDD 536-4414).

Other information:

Meeting Location...
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Air Quality Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Air Quality Board
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Nov 04 13:30:00 MST 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: DRAFT AGENDA...
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Drinking Water Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: DWB Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Thu Nov 12 12:00:00 MST 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: TBA
Notice of Special Accomodations: NA
Notice of Electronic or telephone participation...
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Drinking Water Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: DWB Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Thu Nov 12 13:30:00 MST 2009 - null
Description/Agenda: DRINKING WATER BOARD...
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Transparency Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Transparency Advisory Board Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Tue Oct 13 08:00:00 MDT 2009 - Tue Oct 13 10:00:00 MDT 2009
Description/Agenda: Utah Transparency Advisory Board Meeting
October 13, 2009
State Capitol, Room 415, 8:00 a.m.

Public Meeting Notice and...
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Transparency Board
Utah Public Notice
Meeting Title: Transparency Advisory Board Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Tue Nov 17 08:00:00 MST 2009 - Tue Nov 17 10:00:00 MST 2009
Description/Agenda: Utah Transparency Advisory Board Meeting
November 17, 2009
State Capitol, Room
415, 8:00 a.m.

Public Meeting Notice and Agenda...
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UTAH OFFICE OF TOURISM

BOARD MEETING AGENDA

Thursday, November 12, 2009 – 1:30 p.m.

Miller Motorsports Park

2901 North Sheep Lane – Legends Hall

Tooele, Utah...
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UTAH OFFICE OF TOURISM
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 1:30 p.m.
College of Eastern Utah - Prehistoric Museum
155 East Main Street
Price, UT



1.      Welcome and Introductions - Kim McClelland

2.      Approval of Minutes
3.      Marketing Committee Report - Steve Lindburg & Dave Williams

• Consider approval of request for $85,000 - Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife
• RUF Presentation 
• Blitz Presentation

4.      Director's Report - Leigh von der Esch

• Tokyo Inaugural Flight Update...
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 Utah - May, 2009 - The sluggish economy appears to be playing a major role for Utahns when it comes to deciding whether or not to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to a new report from AAA Utah.

AAA expects 2.7 million people in the Mountain West region, which includes Utah, to travel 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend. The expected number of travelers is down just under 1 percent compared to last year. Nationally, AAA expects the number of Memorial Day travelers to rise slightly to 32.4 million, an increase of 1.5 percent over last year.

"There are signs that the economy is starting to turn around, which might influence people to travel who ...
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CEDAR CITY - Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., and Elder Steven Snow of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will speak Thursday at memorial services to pay tribute to 10 plane crash victims, including members of the Cedar City Area Chamber of Commerce, who died Aug. 22 in Moab.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. in Centrum Arena of Southern Utah University, approximately 210 South and 900 West. Cedar City Mayor Gerald R. Sherrett will conduct the services...
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“Results, I just want results.” Is this what we want to continue demanding or hearing in our business meetings? Is this really the bottom line that every business truly wants? Results in advertising, marketing, sales; Results in training, results in profit. What kind of results do we really want...
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ST GEORGE - "As a member of the Dine (Navajo) Nation, I am among those American Indians who have been influenced by the culture at large while retaining a vital connection with the world of our Fathers. We are called Urban Indians. I believe music is more than what we hear but something that we feel at a very deep place. I think of music as a spiritual event that we participate in-the musician as well as the listener..."  -Vince Redhouse  

The sounds of the Vince Redhouse and ensemble will reverberate from the cliffs as they  perform in concert  on the Tanner Amphitheater stage, Saturday, June 7 - 8:00 p.m. This concert is...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - KCSG Television recently announced the promotion of Local Sales Manager Ed Merrifield to General Manager. 

The announcement by the Stephen Wade Management Group, said the promotion allows the company to more effectively utilize Merrifield's 30-years of...
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Anger in America…repudiation…sending a message…wrong direction ...

All of these are appropriate in regard to the shellacking the Democrats took in Massachusetts…and figuratively across the nation…in Tuesday’s special Senatorial election in the Bay State. Imagine…the Senatorial seat of Ted Kennedy for 46 years, a political icon in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now to be held by a...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Four College Presidents were front and center last Thursday evening to honor the first graduating class of Manufacturing U, a groundbreaking model for education in the state of Utah: UCAT President Robert O. Brems, DXATC President Richard VanAusdal, DSC President Stephen Nadauld, and...
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - The 1,280-square-foot modular home is built out of shipping containers and was put up in three days at the northeast corner of Roosevelt and Fifth streets.

"We just started developing this prototype during the past several months," said Upcycle Living co-founder Ashton Wolfswinkel. Wolfswinkel is the son of Valley real estate investor Conley Wolfswinkel. He teamed up with a friend and custom homebuilder Jason Anderson to create Upcycle Living. Another family friend, Phoenix architect Kiko Smith, is also part of the team that will build homes manufactured from...
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Michael France, Business Services Officer at SouthWest Federal Credit Union, will address the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce at it's luncheon Wednesday. His comments will be directed towards the subject of SBA guaranteed loans available to small businesses.

Finding a source of working capital has become a top priority for most businesses, and luckily, SBA loans are still alive and well. In this tight credit market, many business owners turn to SBA guaranteed loans made through their local credit union.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a government entity formed in 1953 to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of ...
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Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough PC, one of Utah's most prestigious and pioneering law firms, has been ranked as a leading law firm in the state in the areas of Labor & Employment and Real Estate law by Chambers USA. The firm's Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions and Litigation practice groups also received high honors by the internationally-recognized publication.

Chambers and Partners ranks firms and individuals based on three criteria: submissions from legal practitioners, interviews with current and past clients and Chambers' database and resources.  In interviewing clients, independent researchers determine the strength and validity of each law firm, or ...
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St. George, Utah - May, 2009 - St. George-based Town & Country Bank announced recently that its success in using Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system is being featured as part of an exclusive nationwide Microsoft campaign.  The campaign showcases real experiences of businesses and how leading-edge technology can improve their operations.

For Town & Country, just over a year-old, the case study chronicles its use of Windows Vista to support the start-up phase of a new community bank. Town & Country is one of a handful of U.S. businesses to have such a case study created around their use of Windows Vista.

"The case study opportunity is a compliment to...
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ST. GEORGE - Washington County remains one of the premiere cities in the nation when it comes to places to live and do business. The county continues to receive high rankings in both these categories in publications around the nation.

The county has, however, felt the pinch of the national housing and economic slowdown. Development projects are still being proposed, but in many cases are being delayed until growth activity increases. The new St. George Regional Airport, which is scheduled to open in 2011, has become an economic driver for the county looking forward.

The first half of 2008 brought...
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MILFORD, Utah – The Milford Public Library is one of four Utah libraries among the nation’s top-rated America’s Star Libraries according to the Library Journal (LJ) Index of Public Library Service 2009.

The Top-rated Utah libraries include: Milford Public Library, Salt Lake City Public Library, and Lewiston Public Library with the highest rating of five stars, and Mount Pleasant Public Library earned a...
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MILFORD, UTAH - Last Tuesday in Milford, Utah, First Wind celebrated the completion of the first phase of its Milford Wind Corridor project.  Lt. Gov. Bell, federal, state and local leaders joined First Wind at ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the 203 MW first phase of the project
 
Located in Millard and Beaver County, Utah, the first phase of the project will generate 203.5 MW of clean energy, making it the largest renewable energy facility in Utah.  At a ribbon-cutting event at the project site near the town of Milford, First Wind officials were joined by Utah Lt. Governor Greg Bell, officials with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state and local officials, as well as officials with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the cities of Burbank and Pasadena, and the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA).
 
"This project has generated nearly...
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First Wind, an independent wind power company, today announced that it received a “Finding of No Significance” and a Record of Decision from the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approving its 300 megawatt (MW) Milford Wind Corridor project.

The Bureau of Land Management has conducted a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessment for the facility and issued the finding with the decision to approve the project. Milford Wind Corridor is the first wind energy facility permitted under the BLM’s Wind Energy ...
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MILFORD, UTAH -First Wind, an independent developer and operator of wind power in the United States, recenlty announced that it has closed two financing transactions for a total of $191 million.  The first is an eight-and-a-half-year $115 million term loan facility from Alberta Investment Management Corporation ("AIMCo").

The second is a $76 million one-year loan with HSH Nordbank for First Wind's Stetson project.   Proceeds from the financing transactions will be used to further First Wind's development activity and for general corporate purposes.

"These investments in First Wind in the midst of very difficult financing markets show confidenc...
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MILFORD, Utah—Copper King Mining Corporation, an ore mining, processing, and exploration company located in Milford, announced today that it has obtained a long-term financing commitment for the company’s copper mining and milling operations from OCS Capital Group LLC.

The OCS financing commitment represents a firm $100,000,000 project funding commitment. The funding is drawn against federal revenue bonds. The bonds, when issued, will be purchased by...
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The US Department of Labor (DOL) has settled an overtime claim against the Dallas, Texas facility of a national poultry processor.  The employer has agreed to pay $1 million in unpaid overtime and to pay workers for “donning and doffing,” i.e. putting on and taking off required work gear. 

The Company also had failed to...
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WASHINGTON - SBA issued the following statement recently from Administrator Karen Mills regarding efforts to ensure continued funding for two key provisions in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009:

"Over the course of the last few months, the Obama Administration has announced several steps to ensure the continued recovery of small businesses, including our commitment to working with Congress to increase maximum loan sizes for the 7(a), 504 and microloan programs and plans to make access to capital from government lending programs easier for small banks in communities across the...
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CEDAR CITY - Palladon Iron Corp. has initiated operations at the Iron Mountain facility near Cedar City in anticipation of the first shipment of iron ore from the site during the third quarter of 2008.

Palladon Iron's staff is now on site at the mine as work in all aspects of the operation moves forward.

Palladon Iron Corporation (Iron Bull Mining & Milling) has received approval of the Amended Notice of Intention to Commence Large Mining Operations, from the Utah State Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, pending payment of a small additional reclamation bond. This approves the new...
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St. George, UT, March, 2009 - On your mark... get set... Racers around the world are getting ready to rev their engines for SkyWest Airlines' ninth annual Mini Indy, sponsored by the City of St. George and Dixie State College. On Saturday, March 14, nearly 35 go-cart teams will battle it out on the raceway at Dixie State College's Encampment Mall.
 
The charity weekend kicks-off with a private golf tournament for race teams and other sponsorship groups at the renowned Entrada golf course. Here, teams enjoy great golf, networking and competition in the Dixie sun.
 
The event's pinnacle - race day - begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 14, when racers will...
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July 24, a Utah State holiday, also marks the effective date of the last scheduled minimum wage increase under current federal law.  The wage will increase from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour on that date.  Remember that employees who work in states with a higher minimum wage must apply that higher wage. 

Bringing us full circle to the first update above, Congress is considering further increases to the federal minimum wage.  If Sonny and Cher were employment lawyers, they might say "And ...
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CEDAR CITY - Palladon Ventures Ltd. through its subsidiary, Palladon Iron Corporation, has resumed mining operations at the Iron Bull Mining & Milling facility at Iron Mountain, west of Cedar City.

The historic mine has produced over 80,000,000 tons of material since 1853, but has not been actively mined since 1996.

Blasting and mining began last week as the Iron Mountain site went into full operation. The first run-of-mine iron ore to be sent to China was mined from benches 6350 and 6400 and moved to the crusher pad.

Mining operations are currently at approximately 5,000 tons per ...
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MILFORD, Utah - Copper King Mining Corporation, an ore mining, processing, and exploration company located in southern Utah, has announced that it closed on bridge funding with a third-party lender.

Copper King announced that the private transaction closed Friday, Aug. 29, for bridge funding associated with the company's anticipated long-term bond financing.

The company affirmed that the bridge funding was completed by a third-party investor in a related industry and that no equity in the company was involved in the transaction.

The company anticipates using the bridge funding to...
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MILFORD, Utah - Copper King Mining Corporation, an ore mining, processing, and exploration company located in southern Utah, has announced the company has awarded a contract to AF Electric to construct a power substation that will supply power to the Copper King concentrator as part of its Floatation Mill construction.

AF intends to begin work...
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MILFORD, Utah - Copper King Mining Corporation, an ore mining, processing and exploration company in southern Utah, has provided information on its mining operations at the Hidden Treasure open pit near Milford.

Copper King commenced stripping the waste rock from its "Hidden Treasure Copper Skarn Ore Body" in June of 2007, removing approximately 2.2 million tons of such waste rock by drilling, blasting and excavation.

Removal of the waste rock revealed the presence of some extreme unexpected...
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The 16th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, has agreed to speak at Southern Utah University's annual graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at 9 a.m.

 Monson, who has a long history of involvement with and support of higher education within the state of Utah, will also receive an honorary doctorate degree during the morning's ceremony.

 President Monson served for many years on the Utah State Board of Regents, the body which governs higher education in the state of Utah. He is a current trustee of Brigham Young University and the Church Board of Education. He has also served as an officer in the...
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St. George, UT, March, 2009 - Curtis M Jensen, managing partner of the law firm of Snow Jensen & Reece recently announced that Cameron M. Morby has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Cameron's practice is focused in tax and estate planning, asset protection and business entity formation. "Cameron's advanced tax and estate planning degree and exceptional leadership experience make him a welcome addition to our firm," Jensen said. "We are pleased that he has decided to return to his hometown and to practice law with our firm."

After earning his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law, Morby attended the University of Florida, Levin College of Law where he ...
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A national telecom has paid $1.3 million to satisfy a judgment in a religious discrimination case filed in Arkansas.  A jury ruled the involved employer illegally fired two workers after they attended a national Jehovah's Witnesses convention. 

A large garment manufacturer recently paid about $1.7 million to settle national origin, age and pregnancy discrimination charges.  Finally, the EEOC has sued a major Las Vegas casino alleging that an...
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Knowledge - and the Ability to Think - the key to individual success in an increasingly sophisticated economy. Ongoing education and training are now lifelong realities for many to be successful.

Leadership - Democratic leaders in the Congress seem more interested in attacking the President than actually getting much done. Stronger Democratic control of the Senate and the House of Representatives is almost a given in November elections. However, their ability to act like adults and actually “lead” is key to their...
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• Solid U.S. economic growth and incentive-based tax cuts have led government revenues to surge impressively during each of the past four years.

• Global economic growth should exceed 4.0 percent in 2008 (after inflation) for the sixth consecutive year, a development not ...
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Foreclosure rates in St. George have increased for the month of May over the same period last year, according to First American CoreLogic, collector of national, state and local data on home prices, foreclosure and delinquency activity, real estate sales volume and mortgage loan activity.

According to recent data from on foreclosures for the St. George area, the rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans is 3.20 percent for the month of May, an increase of 2.00 percentage points compared to May of 2008 when the rate was 1.20 percent. Foreclosure activity in St. George is higher than the national foreclosure rate which was 2.5 for May 2009, representing a 0.70 percentage point difference.

Also in St. George, the mortgage delinquency rate has increased. According to data for May 2009, 8.00 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared to 3.00 percent for the same period last year, representing an increase of...
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Here is the list of latest employment law legislative proposals introduced in Congress.  The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (S. 1611) in the Senate would provide firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel with collective bargaining rights in states that currently do not provide them.  The bill does not preempt state laws regarding strikes and prohibits strikes or lockouts that would measurably disrupt emergency services.

The Senate is now considering the Employee Non-discrimination Act (ENDA) (S. 1584), which will prohibit employment discrimination based on perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity.  The US Department of Labor (DOL) has issued proposed regulations to implement a Presidential order requiring government contractors to tell employees of their rights to...
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This is the third piece in a series of articles covering planning considerations relating to ownership of real property, starting with individual ownership and moving outward to discuss agents, trusts, the role of legal entities in ownership and income and estate tax planning matters relevant to investors holding significant real property investments. The first and second articles covered ownership issues facing investors during life and can be accessed through archives in issue 31 and 32 or by searching by the author's last name in archives.

In presenting these articles, we hope to provide a basic education on issues faced by real estate investors and to provide a referral source to attorney resources in your state to the extent that you wish to explore estate and tax planning opportunities in more detail. As always, Asset Preservation, Inc. stands ready to facilitate your tax deferred exchange when you are ready to sell an...
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Reality is not nearly as important as what you tell yourself is true about reality.
      - Matt Eschler

Before "Matrix" became the movie phenomenon the word Matrix meant "a point of beginning". By definition a Matrix is where something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops.

We are continuously developing our psyche as well as our soul. As we develop these parts of our being we are required to create mental focus. The more you focus on something - whether that's math or auto racing or football or career paths - the more that becomes your reality, the more it becomes written into the neural connections of your brain. When we focus we generate ideas and develop paths to even more thoughts. In a sense we are shaping our brain as well as creating our future. You can literally sculpt your brain just as you'd sculpt your...
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Be sure to make your contact information easy to find, so the editor or news director can reach you if they want to. Remember, this is why you've worked so hard to create an effective press release – to get the editor/news director to contact you! So make it easy for them by putting your contact info at the top of your email.

Another tip - don't display your entire mailing list in the To field. Many journalists will s...
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My four goats are now nine goats with at least one more anticipated. First and foremost I've learned goats can find their way through anything. A 12 inch x fourteen inch opening into a chicken house presents no challenge to these mamas. However their entry is a bit unnerving to the chickens. Nor does a 6"x6" square in a wire fence restrict their heads and horns from popping through. The head goes first, the neck follows and the weight of the body pushes against the fence until a weed two feet inside the neighbor's yard has been devoured.

The first time I saw a head go through a fence I went for wire cutters. The fit was so snug I envisioned the fence coming down when the head was retracted. Surely the horns would catch on the upper wire. Amazingly, the goat knew how to maneuver her horns back through the square the same way she got them in and she did it to per...
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SANTA ANA, Calif., August 26, 2010— CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading provider of consumer, financial and property information and business services, today released negative equity data showing a second consecutive quarterly decline in national negative equity rates. CoreLogic reports that 11 million, or 23 percent, of all residential properties with mortgages were in negative equity at the end of the second quarter of 2010, down from 11.2 million and 24 percent from the...
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A recent survey indicates that four out of five community leaders in Washington County who attended a recent summit have a positive general impression of the proposed affiliation between Dixie State College (DSC) and the University of Utah (U of U). This statistic and others about affiliation perception were included in a survey report presented to the executive committee of the Washington County Economic Development Council (WCEDC) on March 11 this year.

The survey was facilitated by an ad hoc committee of that council and was administered at the organization's economic summit breakfast held Jan. 14. The report indicated 80.3% of those surveyed view the affiliation as...
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December 2008-Mountain America Credit Union was recognized as one of the best companies to work for by Utah Business magazine.

"To qualify as a Best Company to Work For, each potential company was put through a rigorous survey process, administered by South Jordan-based Allegiance Inc. A range a questions and criteria, that included benefits, company policies and other vital measurements were asked of a company representative, and separately a percentage of employees from each company was surveyed confidentially to see if the company truly had what it takes to be a ...
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SALT LAKE CITY - The board of directors of Mountain America Credit Union named Sterling W. Nielsen as president and chief executive officer.

Nielsen will take the reins from Gordon R. Dames who will retire on Dec. 31. Nielsen has been executive vice president, chief administrative officer of Mountain America Credit Union prior to this appointment. He joined Mountain America in 1995.

Prior to joining Mountain America Credit Union, Nielsen, a Certified Public Accountant, was an auditor with Grant Thornton, LLC in Salt Lake City.

Dames' retirement from Mountain America comes after...
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Utah -  Mountain America Credit Union was recently honored with four Diamond Awards, which recognizes outstanding marketing and business development achievements in the credit union industry.
 
The awards were presented by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing and Business Development Council, a national network comprised of more than 1,000 credit union marketing and business development professionals. Awards are given in each of 34 categories ranging from advertising to community events and beyond. Winners were recognized at the council’s 16th annual conference held ...
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Fales brainchild is a 3,200-acre master-planned mountain community called Braffits Mountain. He expects Braffits Mountain will appeal to those who want a mountain home experience, but don’t want to travel all the way to Salt Lake or Colorado to get it.

“Braffits Mountain is similar to Tuhaye, Promontory, and Talisman and near Park City, Utah,” Fales sai...
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HIGHLIGHTS

• The Zions Bank Small Business Index for Utah was 69.9 in August 2009, up from a revised 69.0 in July 2009

• Utah's unemployment rate was estimated at 6.0% in the latest month, up from 5.7% in the prior month.  Total Utah employment fell an estimated 52,600 jobs during the past 12 months

• Even as the U.S. recession appears to be ending, Rocky Mountain states, as well as states across the nation, are facing record or near-record unemployment rates

• The U.S. economy lost an estimated 216,000 net jobs in August, less than the 230,000 decline expected.  However, job losses in June and July were revised to show 49,000 more positions eliminated.  The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to...
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ST.GEORGE - Dixie Moving & Storage, an agent for Bekins Van Lines, has received two awards from the company's home delivery affiliate HOMEDIRECT USA for Unload Scanning Performance and Providing Damage Free Service for 2007-08.

Dixie Moving & Storage has been an agent for Bekins Van Lines for 31 years and has been a home delivery agent for HomeDirect USA for three years.

Dixie Moving & Storage is owned by Ralph & Pamela Bingham and is located at 1351 Redledge Road, Washington, Utah.

Dear President Obama:

 I'm planning to move my family and extended family into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me.

 We're planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and we'll need your help to make a few arrangements.

 We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws.

 I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I'm on my way over?

 Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

 1. Free medical care for my entire family.

 2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

 3. Please print all Mexican government forms in English.

 4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.

 5. Tell their schools they need to include classes on American culture and history.

 6. I want my grandkids to see the American flag on one of the flag  poles at their school.

 7. Please plan to feed my grand kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

 8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

 9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico, but, I don't plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won't make any special effort to learn local traffic laws.

 10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the...
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Need an example?  Think of the stupid CEO I wrote about a few weeks ago.  This is the guy who accidentally sent an email-- slamming the age of a job applicant who was not hired-- to the applicant himself. Now the resulting court case is looking questionable for the employer.  That stinks! 

What can you do about the stink?  Take control back.  Educate management about HR's value, especially in compliance issues.  CEOs are not stupid, they just act that way sometimes.  Remind them that HR is a profit center (think of all the lawsuit money you save the business with good HR management), not a loss center. HR needs a seat at the management table.  HR and the CEO must have a good, working relationship...establish it!  Finally, because they will happen, fix mistakes quickly when they...
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Since the greater balance of properties our network ‘sells’� are businesses, it might make sense that we have frequent discussions about business value. In my column last week we concluded that it reasonably comes down to ‘rate of return.’� ROI really defines the highest and best value for a company.

That notwithstanding, many discussions held in our conference room or on the phone with clients center around ‘multipliers.’� Let's talk about these multipliers and whence they came. First, what are they? Multipliers attempt to simplify and shortcut the process of establishing the value of a business. (Of course, doing so tends to ignore...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The Tax Free Fund For Utah invests in municipal projects throughout the country, but has a special emphasis on Utah projects. Some of the Southern Utah projects the fund currently invests in are the Washington County School District, Coral Canyon Special Services District, and the Santa Clara Storm Drain.

It is interesting to note that...
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This is the first piece in a series of articles covering planning considerations relating to ownership of real property, starting with individual ownership and moving outward to discuss agents, trusts, the role of legal entities in ownership and income and estate tax planning matters relevant to investors holding significant real property investments. In presenting these articles, we hope to provide a basic education on issues faced by real estate investors.

In an increasingly complicated world, most individual investors continue to hold title to investment property in their individual names. It has been said that ownership of real property consists of a bundle of rights and a bundle of obligations. Anyone who owns a residence knows the basic truth of this statement when, from the comfort of their living room, ...
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So (regarding real property ownership) how could things go wrong? They might go wrong if the owner leaves the country and is unable to timely respond to an unexpected event such as the departure of a major tenant, a lawsuit or a property manager's theft. The same result follows from the owner's unexpected death or the onset of mental incompetence resulting from age or serious illness.

Is there any way to protect the owner and the asset under these circumstances? Of course, there are a variety of ways to ensure that management continues uninterrupted during the owner's absence, death or disability.

The simplest and most common method used to provide for continuity of management authority is to...
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This is the sixth and final piece in a series of articles covering planning considerations relating to ownership of real property, starting with individual ownership and moving outward to discuss agents, trusts, the role of legal entities in ownership and income and estate tax planning matters relevant to investors holding significant real property investments. Previous articles in this series and can be accessed through archives searching by the author's last name.

Although there is a more formal legal definition of a trust, a trust is generally a private contractual arrangement between a "settlor" or "trustor" (the terms settlor and trustor are interchangeable and refer to the person who creates and transfers property to the trust), a "trustee" (a person or entity given authority to manage the property transferred to the trust) and a "beneficiary" (the person for whose benefit the trust property is held).

The contract establishing the terms of the trust is referred to as the...
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This is the fourth piece in a series of articles covering planning considerations relating to ownership of real property, starting with individual ownership and moving outward to discuss agents, trusts, the role of legal entities in ownership and income and estate tax planning matters relevant to investors holding significant real property investments. Previous articles in this series and can be accessed through archives searching by the author's last name.

A transfer among joint owners that occurs at death is instantaneous and may be confirmed by the transferee on presentation of identification and proof of the joint owner's death. In the case of real estate, the surviving joint tenant merely records a declaration of surviving joint tenant to memorialize the...
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This is the fifth piece in a series of articles covering planning considerations relating to ownership of real property, starting with individual ownership and moving outward to discuss agents, trusts, the role of legal entities in ownership and income and estate tax planning matters relevant to investors holding significant real property investments. Previous articles in this series and can be accessed through archives searching by the author's last name.

Probate hails from a slower, simpler time. The person appointed by the court to administer the estate is called an "executor" if nominated under a will or an "administrator" if the decedent dies without a will. Either way, the prospective executor or administrator must give notice of the decedent's death to creditors and family members, petition the court for authority to serve as executor or administrator and, in the case of a will, petition a court to admit the will for...
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Dear Daddy,
Couldn't sleep last night so I revisited all the dogs I've had in my life. Before there was you and me, I had Spot who died from distemper in Flagstaff, and Hintz (57 varieties) who was run over in New Mexico. Their demise taught me as a very small child that nothing was forever. The next one was Lady who came from Uncle Joe in Minneapolis. He shipped her by train in 1937. When she arrived in Phoenix, she was so frightened it took her forever to crawl out of the crate. She couldn't stop shaking and she wouldn't come to my parents or to me. What a terrible experience for her.

The next year Lady and I shared a horrible experience. She had a litter of puppies with some dog that happened by. My father insisted they had to be destroyed because they weren't thoroughbred. Mother bawled, father swore, and in the end I took care of her precious little ones. They were black and white and curly. I tried to explain to her that she had done a bad thing and I was just trying to help, but I couldn't console her. I still have her papers, Her registered name was...
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"My world reached from horizon to horizon, only the distance my eyes could see. What I saw satisfied me. Nothing in the vision left me wanting. Time was metered in days and seasons-minutes were used for timing races and boiling eggs. There was a season for hot and a season for cold. One for sheep to mate another for them to lamb. Everything happened in it's season. Time was not an obsession. What came, came, and we made the best of it.

"Summers spent between home in St George and the sheep camp on the Arizona Strip defined a pattern my life would follow to adulthood. On the Utah side of the state line was tradition, ritual, and much socializing, especially within the church. On the Arizona side life was rugged and often...
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"I thought it might be helpful to summarize the past year. I am always amazed that at any one point in time it doesn’t seem like much is happening, but upon reflection a lot has changed and a lot has been accomplished. Here are the top ten highlights of 2009, from my perspective." Sederburg's list is as follows:

1. Student enrollment increases
USHE’s colleges and universities have responded to an unprecedented increase of more than 24,000 students in enrollment since Fall 2008 while (a) keeping tuition rates as some of the most affordable in the country and (b) not hurting services to students. The biggest increases in headcount was the 23% headcount increase at Dixie State College, particularly in four-year programs, and the 15% increase at...
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