Most of us don't take enough time out for meditation or prayer. In fact many people that I talk with claim that they are so strapped for time that they rarely reflect or consider any kind of direction. A mouse on a spinning fly wheel is the vision I see as people describe their lives.

Constantly moving at warp speed, living more in reaction to the fires they are putting out rather than responding to a clearly thought about purpose. Many of us are no longer enjoying the freedom to pursue the happiness they so desire. The principal of reflection through meditation or prayer is a key avenue to building a successful life.

We all think about success as more than putting in a million hours and pleasing every one in our midst. Success is being able to enjoy the fruits of our labor and finding peace in knowing what direction you're moving in. A clear well thought out strategy requires quiet meditation and prayer. The well designed strategy leads to a vision of a list of resources you will need to accomplish your...
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Liberty, freedom and self control are the desire of every one I know. We do much of what we do to generate some freedom or at minimum a hope of future freedoms. As we consider freedom and the pursuit of it we all have to face the paradigm of freedom; Freedom is not free. Freedom comes with rules even boundaries. Sure you are free to yell BOMB in an airport, but are you free to board your plane and fly to your destination after the bomb threats are over? Rather, you would likely lose the freedom to fly and possibly in today's world lose the right to even go home after yelling bomb in an airport. In all of this thought ... it is agreed that freedom comes with its ...
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ST. GEORGE - Steve Talbot, MPT, has been named the director of rehabilitation for Red Cliff's Regional.

"We are thrilled to see Steve take the reins and run with the program. It is truly inspirational." said Joann Archibald, executive director of Red Cliffs Regional.

Talbot received his associate's degree from Dixie State College and his master's from the University of Utah, graduating summa cum laude in 1998.

Red Cliffs is now partnering with RehabCarae, a nationwide rehabilitation company focused on helping clients realize the potential of tomorrow by giving them the strength and tools ...
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SALT LAKE CITY, —The Credit Union Executives Society named H. Floyd Tanner, Chairman of the Board of Mountain America Credit Union, West Jordan, Utah, the 2008 CUES Director of the year. 
Tanner was presented with an engraved crystal trophy by the 2007 recipient, Dr. Dorothy J. Orr, during the award celebration at CUES’ Directors Conference at the Desert Springs, JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif. earlier this month.
Upon receiving the award, Tanner, a 38 year veteran of the credit union movement, said, "I have a deep passion for...
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Are you running a small business? Would you like a calendar packed with valuable business tax information? The IRS is offering a free calendar to help business owners keep track of tax deadlines and important dates throughout the year.

You might be surprised to learn that the IRS publishes a calendar, like our popular Web site, IRS.gov, the calendar is part of our many services to help owners and operators of small businesses.

The Tax Calendar for Small Businesses and Self-Employed Individuals from the Internal Revenue Service is a 12-month calendar filled with...
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So-called "Tax Freedom Day" in Utah is not until next week, the Deseret News reports.

Tax Freedom day is the date when a typical taxpayer would have earned enough - if they spent no money on anything else - to have paid all their annual federal, state and local taxes.

In Utah this year, that is April 21, or 111 days into the year.

"Americans will spend more on taxes in 2008 than they will spend on food, clothing and housing combined," said Tax Foundation President Scott Hodge, co-author of an annual study that determines when Tax Freedom Day falls.

Are you opening a new business this summer? Here are six tax tips for those wanting to start or acquire a new business.

1. First, you must decide what type of business entity you are going to establish. The type of business entity will determine...
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In the first quarter of 2008, Washington County had a decline in overall taxable sales, according to data released by the Utah State Tax Commission.

The county saw more than $600 million in taxable sales through the first quarter, a 1.14 percent dip from last year. The sales figures for Iron County were more favorable, posting a modest gain of 0.55 percent.

The Tax Commission figures measure total sales of taxed goods and services countywide.

Economists blame the slide on a decline in construction spending. With fewer new homes being built, people are buying less...
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CEDAR CITY - Southwest Applied Technology College is expanding to increase training opportunities for the transportation and automotive technology industries.

SWATC broke ground on a new Automotive and Diesel Training Center at 100 E. Nichols Canyon Road, just off of I-15, west of the "old" north interchange.

At the ceremony SWATC also honored the USDA Rural Development office for their contribution to the SWATC Professional Truck Driving Program.

 SALT LAKE CITY - Telesphere, a private IP network provider for voice and data solutions, has launched its innovative platform in Salt Lake City, and is now offering telecommunication services to local businesses. Telesphere's platform is one of the most advanced in the industry, and yet, is as simple to use as a regular land line phone. The company currently provides its service to customers in 44 states, including Utah. The Utah office will be located at 53^rd South and I-15.

     Using state-of-the-art hosted voice technology, the company combines all local and long distance ...
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For retailers, the decision whether to advertise is easy, for the answer is always yes. Advertising is a great way to attract new customers who will, in turn, spread the word about your business to others. It also reminds previous customers that your business is still there to serve them.

However, which medium to use is only part of the decision-making process. Designing and implementing an advertising strategy requires thoughtful planning. Like a reporter, you need to ask some basic questions: Who is your target market and what media is best to reach to reach them─newspaper, magazines, radio, TV (including cable) or...
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Under COBRA, an employer with 20 or more employees that offers health care benefits to an employee must give the employee the option to continue such benefits, at the employee's expense, when coverage ends due to various circumstances, such as termination of employment. As part of the economic stimulus bill, Congress has enacted an employer/insurer COBRA subsidy for employees (of certain income levels, i.e. below $125,000/year) who are involuntarily terminated from employment and eligible for COBRA between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
In a nutshell, the subsidy requires the employer/insurer to pay 65% of COBRA premiums and the government will reimburse this amount to ...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The St. George Term Limits Committee has endorsed Ed Baca for Mayor and is calling on voters to impose a "term limit" on incumbent Mayor Dan McArthur by voting him out of office. 

The committee is composed of residents of St. George who support candidates who pledge to serve no more than two terms in office. About fifty committee members signed a letter endorsing Baca last week.

According to Pat Bradley, the committee's chairman, the group decided to support Baca because...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Terra West Management Services, a community management firm with an office in St. George, recently announced the appointment of Mary Brailey as community manager and regional directors of its southern Utah office.

Through her direction, the St. George Terra West office will conduct...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - How would you like to ensure that you never make a major advertising mistake again? You can and will through TESTING. 

When you test one advertising variable against another, you will find that one always outpulls all others by a significant margin. A price of $19 may outpull $21 by three times. A certain headline in a newspaper ad might out pull another one by as many as 5 or 10 times! That's 5 or 10 times the result without an increase in expense.  

As you test different approaches, carefully...
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SALT LAKE CITY, November 20, 2009 - Economic conditions continue to have a tight grip on the number of Mountain West residents expected to travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
 
Utah's latest travel survey predicts more than 2.5 million travelers in the Mountain West region plan to travel 50 miles or more this extended, four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This represents a modest overall increase of .3 percent compared to 2008. 
 
"The projected increase in travel appears to reflect improved consumer confidence from last year," said AAA Utah spokesperson Rolayne Fairclough. "However, higher unemployment figures and less money in consumers' wallets will most likely keep many people home who in the past may have been more likely to...
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We are certainly interesting as humans and especially in regards to how we communicate. Listening is the element that provides the advantage in communication. Most people just want to be heard, I am sure you can remember hearing comments like this; “did you hear what I just said, are you listening to me, do you understand what I am saying”, and the volume and tones are usually not the...
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Now and then when discussing the value of a business, people will comment that a business is only worth ‘what someone will pay.’�

That, I believe, is as not so subtle attempt to suggest that there is no measurable, dependable way to recognize and document the value of a business in a way that acceptable to any likely interested party - be it a buyer, or seller, or partner, or an owner who's looking to improve business value, or one party or the other to a divorce.

Let's take a look at the ‘what someone will pay’� line of thinking. It's probably true, but how often? I remember a case in recent years where a buyer paid four times the market ...
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The American Economy
...it's about time!
The majority of forecasting economists see U.S. economic growth returning in the current quarter, with most forecasts actually revised higher in recent weeks to reflect stronger performance. Reasonably solid growth during 2009's final quarter also seems on tap, with positive, but perhaps less robust, growth expected next year.

The "Great Recession"...the longest, deepest, and most painful since the Great Depression, has officially been with us since December 2007.   A return to positive U.S. economic growth does not suggest that problems with housing, commercial real estate, sick investment portfolios, and wobbly financial markets are finally...
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If you’re a small business owner, chances are you’ve caught yourself, more than once, dreaming about the future. You may picture yourself hobnobbing with industry leaders, cornering the market with an innovative product or service, or directing the work of hundreds of employees.

There’s nothing wrong with this kind of musing, as long as you are willing to invest the time and energy to achieve these dreams. However, entrepreneurs often fail to consider a...
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SALT LAKE CITY - According to the Deseret News, Utah is performing better than the national economy. Also, Gov. Huntsman announced that more jobs are headed to the state.

The governor said, "The outlook is quite good. I would put it this way, I would say there is a very definite and distinct buzz about the Utah marketplace, not just here in the United States but indeed, throughout the world. More jobs in the pipeline? No question about it."

Few specifics were mentioned, but an announcement about those new jobs will be made in the coming weeks.

Huntsman told a ...
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After applying one financial band-aid after another in recent days, weeks, and months, the U.S. government was forced to bring out the really big guns during the past few days,

The net result will be the largest government intervention into the private sector since the Great Depression

What makes the story even more interesting is that the steps proposed by the U.S. Treasury Department to help strengthen distressed financial institutions by buying up their "toxic" real estate loans and investments is actually the lesser of two evils.

The alternative would be a massive ...
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BOSTON-After much deliberation, The New York Times Co. announced on Wednesday that it wouldn't sell The Boston Globe. Times Co. Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and CEO Janet Robinson informed Globe employees of the decision through a memo. The company said it is still weighing its options for other New England holdings, including the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, MA.

The memo noted a series of initiatives the newspaper has embarked upon, namely a restructuring of labor contracts that will save an estimated $20 million per year, as well as consolidation of printing facilities and price increases for...
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After working as a store manager for eight years in Las Vegas at Carroll's Cameras, I decided to start up my own business. St George looked like the perfect place to raise children and open a camera store.

On Nov. 1, 1984, Camera Country opened its doors in the commercial center near K-Mart and Albertson's. Boy, was I nervous, scared, and unsure of what to expect being my first business venture.

The support I got from my family in California, where I grew up, motivated me to make sure it was a successful business. My mother, Lucille, who did very well in many ...
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A recent Connecticut Supreme Court decision is a timely reminder that what you say, as an employer, can and will be used against you in a court of law. The Connecticut court upheld a quarter-of-a-million-dollar verdict against an employer, finding it was liable for defamation after firing an employee based on false allegations of theft and commenting on the same.

The involved employee had worked at an elder care facility and was fired after she took a deceased patient's furniture. It turns out the patient's daughter had given the employee permission to do so. This case illustrates a common mistake employers make in documentation ... overstating your case or not ...
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The speed of business has been frantic these past few years. Price changes have been volatile at best. As your vendors increase (and decrease?) your price for their product, it makes a great case for a system to manage your costs and expenses.

You already have the tool, but are you using it? If you don't, you may find yourself in a cash crunch. What's the tool? Your every day ordinary income statement (sometimes called an Income & Expense Statement, or a profit and loss statement, or P&L). Remember that in many instances cost savings can be more ‘profitable’� than increasing sales! Don't leave this ‘stone" unturned!

So what should you do?...
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What exactly is chaos? Have you ever felt like your life was full of chaos? What is balance? Is balance elusive or obtainable? At home we want peace and quiet, at a party we want fun and excitement, at work we want a little bit of both. Imagine being at home and wanting peace and quiet while your spouse is feeling bored of sitting around and wants to party! If these folks fight for what they need the guy that wished for peace has ruined his peace while the woman that wanted to party is going to end her quest in frustration. Chaos and peace may...
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We plan for our future. Every step we take ads up until we arrive at a location, a state of mind or a goal achieved. We labor over tools needed to set, track and achieve our goals. We aim our souls toward what motivates us to higher ground and proceed to achieve the purposes we have set for ourselves. We seek to learn from past mistakes. We look at our successes and our failures for clues to how we can behave in our futures. From an early age we are taught...
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A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"

Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, Why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a...
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Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and...
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A significant downward move in the U.S. dollar versus other major global currencies has occurred over the past few years. Such a development, like so many others in "the dismal science of economics," finds financial market participants, manufacturers, exporters, importers, hoteliers, travel agents, etc. being positively or negatively impacted by measurable shifts in currency values.

A simple view would suggest that U.S.-based manufacturers, incurring costs and selling products based in dollars, would tend to benefit from a weaker dollar as their ability to compete...
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"The Federal Reserve should be abolished," writes Ron Paul, "because it is immoral, unconstitutional, impractical, promotes bad economics, and undermines liberty."

Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) ran for President in 2008.  He is highly likely to run again in 2012. He has a fervent, but small, following of highly conservative people.  At the risk of upsetting some of my readers, I see him as a nice man with highly flawed political views.

He has a new book out entitled "End the Fed."  In a perhaps nicer-than-it-should-have-been USA TODAY book discussion, the reviewer noted some of Paul's basic desires, without taking him to task on any of them...

...no such luck here

Paul notes that the central bank (the Fed) "can create trillions of dollars and distribute them to its cronies without...
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The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated. 
-- William James 

Recently my spouse and I have begun a family journal. We labeled this Journal "The Eschler Family Gratitude Journal". It is in a bound journal so the pages won't fallout. Since we have focused on writing a sentence or two each week in this family journal I have noticed a difference in how the family interacts.

It is not earth shattering, but the...
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The Gringo Grill is opening for business April 1st just off of Riverside Drive in St George. The restaurant will be serving authentic Mexican dishes for those seeking real flavor from south of the border. Owners, Rochelle and Carson Hunt look forward to having you taste St George City's newest...
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With every passing day, another one of President Obama’s health care promises bites the dust. The more this $2.6 trillion health law is exposed for what it is – a massive big government expansion into people’s lives – the more clear it is that we need to repeal two of the central pillars holding up ObamaCare: the job-killing employer mandate and the unconstitutional, federal individual mandate.

Our nation’s economy is not recovering like the Administration promised. It remains perilously weak despite the White House’s outlandish claims about the trillion dollar stimulus spending bill “saving or creating” millions of jobs. We’ve witnessed first-time claims for unemployment reach a nine-month high. Our unemployment rate is stuck at 9.5 percent. And home sales have dropped by a whopping 27 percent in just one month.

In fact, many businesses aren’t willing to invest or hire new employees because they are taking it on the chin because of this Administration’s agenda. That’s one of the core reasons I fought the health law, because it’s built upon spending money we don’t have, raising taxes, and more government intrusion into people’s lives – hurting our recovery and our economy at the worst possible time.

In response, I crafted a straight-forward bill to repeal the employer mandate that will punish our job creators at a time when they need to start hiring again. In fact the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that employer mandates alone would slap over $50 billion in new taxes on businesses.

Last week, I announced that this legislation has garnered the support of four important groups representing our nation’s job creators – the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, National Association of Wholesalers, and the National Retail Federation.

In a letter to me supporting my legislation, the Chamber laid out why getting rid of this provision is so important: “Businesses with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees are hesitant to grow their businesses or hire what would amount to the 50th employee; under current law, the impending employer mandate would subject them to dangerous new requirements and penalties.”

NFIB explained how it punishes struggling workers: “Employer mandates are blunt instruments that do not address the fundamental issues of our flawed health care system. Research has shown they are highly regressive and punish lower-margin firms and lower-wage workers. In difficult economic times, we depend on these types of firms to stabilize and expand, not increase their costs. They are the engines of growth and recovery and employer mandates throttle them.”

If the employer mandate weren’t enough, this administration chose to include an individual mandate requiring every American to purchase health insurance even if they don’t want it. This is stretching the bounds of the Constitution to a place our Founders never intended. The bottom line is if the federal government can require you to do this, then what can’t it force you to do?

After fighting this provision tooth and nail, I was pleased that my home state of Utah was in the original group of 13 states that filed the first lawsuit in Florida minutes after President Obama signed it into law. I introduced the American Liberty Restoration Act that also was endorsed by NFIB and NRF to get rid of this unparalleled expansion of federal power.

With a Democrat in the White House, a straight repeal of this legislative monstrosity would be extremely tough. The President would simply pull out his veto pen. What we need to do instead is work strategically to take down these two pillars propping up ObamaCare that threaten our economic future and our fundamental liberty. From there we need to enact real, market-based reforms that would expand access to lower cost health care.

We should start with common-sense step-by-step solutions that reduce health care costs and...
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There are two factors at work in a prospect’s subconscious mind when he’s considering doing business with you: credibility and risk. Your job in advertising is to raise credibility and lower risk. If you successfully do that, you will capture all the business.

So let’s talk first about credibility. The problem is that in today’s marketplace people are more skeptical and weary - weary of getting ripped off and skeptical of offers that sound just too good to be true.

In short, people are generally in a defensive buying position. As a result, the tendency is to either do...
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Last time I told you there are key concepts to building credibility for your business.

1. Find out what they want
2. Find out how to give it to them
3. Learn to communicate what you do in a way that's believable

First, find out what they want. This is done through asking. That's it. Ask. Now the tricky part is how you ask and what you ask. Ask your current customers, past customers, and prospects who haven't become customers yet what they want in your kind of business.

But don't just go ask them, "What do you look for in a printing company...or in a temporary personnel service...or in a...
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Here is an update on employment-related bills that the Utah Legislature is considering during the current session.
Bills seeking to restrict the use of cell phones or texting while driving are still pending before legislative committees.
A bill seeking to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation failed when brought before a House committee. 
Efforts to revise the pending requirement that public employers use the E-Verify system seem to be suffering as some prominent legislators have stated they see no need to further delay implementation of the bill passed last year. 
A bill creating a cause of action against health care employers who...
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Here is an incredible marketing technique that will show you how to use the word FREE to generate increased sales and profits. The word FREE just happens to be the most powerful word in advertising and marketing. No other word draws as much attention. No other word can generate as much action.

I am going to show you ways to use FREE and make a favorable impression with your prospects and customers... and make them want to do more FULL PRICE business with you.

Here is an example from one of our...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - In his book Think And Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill says that one of the major causes of failure is that people "prefer to act on opinions created by guesswork or snap judgments rather than facts." Meaning advertising decisions are based on what you think will work rather than what the marketplace wants. 

This is the main reason advertisements don't work and businesses fail. Your livelihood depends on your ability to determine which messages will effectively attract new customers and entice your current customers to come back again and again.  

You need to put every important...
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There are two sides to your business - the "inside reality" and the "outside perception." The inside reality has to do with all the things your business does that causes you to be valuable to your customers - such as products, services, operations, and management standpoint.

It's what gives you a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The reason it called the inside reality is because there's a good chance that the reality of what you do, and the customers' perceptions of...
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Most small businesses that I consult with think that marketing's most important function is to sell products and services. Your marketing system should establish within the mind of your prospect that you are knowledgeable and...
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For the week of October 15 through October 21, mortgage rates have been on the rise. About two-thirds of the panelists believe mortgage rates will rise over the next 35 to 45 days. A small minority think rates will fall, and the rest believe rates will remain relatively unchanged.

FHA has still been the most popular loan for borrowers.  Using an FHA loan to purchase a $200,000.00 home with $7,000.00 (3.5%, can be gift funds) down, a buyer's rate would be 5.00%, with approximately $5,800.00 in closing costs, resulting in a monthly payment of $1,037.00 (principal and interest). The APR would be 5.25%.

On a conventional loan, the purchase of a $200,000.00 home with a $40,000.00 (20%) down, the rate would be...
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This week (Oct. 19 - Oct. 23): Mortgage rates remain relatively unchanged this week. Looking forward this week, 55 percent of the panelists believe mortgage rates will rise over the next 35 to 45 days. Another 12 percent think rates will fall, and the rest believe rates will remain relatively unchanged. Go figure...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - For the week of November 5 through November 11, there's almost an even split among those who believe rates will go up and those who think they will remain unchanged. This week, half of the panelists believe mortgage rates will remain relatively unchanged over the next 35 to 45 days. Another 43 percent think rates will rise, and the rest believe rates will fall.

The first time home buyers tax credit extension and expansion has...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The Utah State Board of Regents granted approval for Dixie State College's new communication baccalaureate degree in mid summer 2009. The new communication degree replaced what was called the "communication and new media" degree.

The new comprehensive communication degree features emphasis in three area  -

• Human communication - includes educational tracks in interpersonal, small group, organizational, and public (speech) communication.

• Mass communication tracks - include print, communication technology, public relations, and electronic media.

• Digital film tracks - feature digital film production, digital film production management, and compositing.

Focus on Mass Media and Digital Film

In our information-driven world, it is imperative to provide hands-on experiences for students in Dixie state College's mass media and film production programs. To meet this need, we have instituted the...
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Buddha made this statement twenty five hundred years ago, “Let the wise guard their thoughts, which are difficult to perceive, extremely subtle, and wander at will. Thought which is well guarded is the bearer of happiness”.

What might we learn from this statement? Recently I have taught course work in the University setting. Part of this course included a perspective of how our brain develops and what type of patterns do we follow due to this development.

The brain in basic terms develops in three levels that...
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Every small business loves referrals.  They are the golden clients; the ones that are already sold on your service or product before they walk in the door.  They already know somebody who knows, likes and trusts you so, they borrow that trust from them and immediately give it to you; meaning you don't have to work so hard to earn their business.  Plus, because they want to do business with you; you no longer have to compete on price.   

So, the question is, how do you go about getting more referrals?  Do you ask for them?  Do you give them some incentive? Do you just focus on customer service and wait for them to come to you? 

At Duc...
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The U.S. Commerce Department's latest revision to prior economic data now suggests (at least for the moment) that the U.S. economy has finally experienced a quarter of declining GDP. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the economy's estimated total output of goods and services.

The first official GDP estimate for 2008's April-June quarter was a 1.9 percent real (after inflation) annual growth pace, below the consensus view of a 2.3 percent pace. However, the sharp downward revision to 2007's final quarter was more newsworthy.

The Commerce Department now suggests the U.S. economy actually...
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SAN RAMON, Calif.-- May, 2009--Chevron Corporation recently reported earnings of $1.84 BILLION for the first quarter 2009. That compares to the $5.17 billion in the 2008 first quarter. Earnings in the 2009 period included gains of approximately $400 million on downstream asset sales.

Sales and other operating revenues in the first quarter 2009 were $35 billion, down from $65 billion in the year-ago period due mainly to lower prices for...
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Today four young female Boers goats have invaded my space. They are assigned to a pen where Wes once kept his horse. These girls serve a twofold purpose. They are required farm animals to satisfy the government as to our agricultural status for tax purposes and next month they will bring forth a crop of little kids. And here begins The Saga of the Goat Woman---

Breaaaaad

A sixth sense bestowed upon women of the Great Depression, helped me in finding a deal. Age qualifies me. My most recent find was bread, loaves and loaves of bread. There was a time when a local old bread store sold large sacks of days old bread for one dollar. Then the company changed its policy. Much larger lots were sold for twelve dollars. When I inquired as to how much bread twelve dollars bought, Fred, the bread man, told me I would have to bring a truck. No way could I use a truck full just to feed transient quail.

When my goats arrived, again I saw merit in ...
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Recently, a new supermarket opened in Eau Claire , Wisconsin.

It has an automatic water mister, to keep the produce fresh.

Just before it goes on, you hear the ...
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As told by her husband Wes Atkin

My oldest sister Mary, and her good friend Annie Sullivan planned to attend Dixie College in the fall of 1921, but instead Annie went off to teach school. The Superintendent of Schools contacted her when he needed a teacher for a short term of five months.

She would have fourteen students ranging from first grade through seventh. They were from five scattered ranches some 35 miles west of St George in the isolated community of Motoqua. She would be living with the John Eardley family. Mr. Eardley would come in town after her. This was a good chance, Annie thought, to find out if she might like to be a teacher.

West as far as Santa Clara and Ivins was familiar to Annie. She had classmates from...
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Editors Note: The Mainstreet Business Journal is serializing Startin' Out in Dixie, tales told by Wes Atkin about growing up in St. George during the early years of the 20th century. In this installment, Wes continues the tale of Annie Sullivan Hall, school teacher at the remote ranch settlement of Motaqua, whose only way home to spend Christmas with her family was a 35-mile horseback ride in the dark along an unmarked trail she had only ridden once before.

In the last installment, Annie took a teaching job to school the children of a few families living at Motaqua. With no phone service and no mail delivery to the community, she has no way to contact her family in St. George. Annie became resigned to ...
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If you manage a business or are organizing your personal life the sequence is the same. According to recent published studies and my own personal experience the business of organization or management remains a process of running systems.

I have spent the last 11 years doing intensive...
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The extended American recession, now into its 18th month, will be the longest and deepest of any since the Great Depression. A return to positive (if modest) U.S. economic growth during the July to September quarter is the consensus view of forecasting economists.  Modest growth should be followed by more robust performance during 2009's final quarter and more solid growth throughout 2010.

A return to U.S. economic growth clearly does not suggest that problems with housing, commercial real estate, sick investment portfolios, and wobbly financial markets are behind us. But it IS a step in the right direction!

Budget Deficits
...tooooo much
The Obama Administration's aggressive spending initiatives will see a deficit approaching $2,000,000,000,000 in fiscal year...
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The U.S. economy seems stuck in that spooky area between minimal growth and mild recession. First quarter real (inflation adjusted) economic growth was revised higher to a 0.9% annual rate, with another revision to come. Many second quarter growth estimates are near zero, with most forecasters expecting somewhat better performance in the year’s second half and into 2009. 

Why? The combination of aggressive Federal Reserve ease, impressive U.S. export growth to a solid global economy, and the $168 billion fiscal stimulus program will help. It is entirely possible that...
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ST. GEORGE - For the third year in a row, The Village Bank has been named one of the best performing banks in the nation by the American Banking Association (ABA), ranking among the top 25 on a list that includes commercial banks, thrifts, and bank holding companies with assets greater than $100 million. The Village Bank's current assets exceed $272 million.

The ABA rankings are based on average return on equity for the year 2007. During that year, a particularly difficult one for the banking industry, The Village Bank achieved a return of ...
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The sharp upward revision to second quarter 2008 U.S. economic growth, combined with economic performance in prior quarters, combined with consensus expectations of performance in future quarters, strongly suggests that a W-shaped period of economic performance is upon us (what a mouthful!)

Such a notion can be gathered from the chart below, starting in 2007's third quarter.

Prior periods of economic gyration have included U-shaped economic decline and recovery, as well as periods of V-shaped economic decline and recovery. Perhaps the most ominous is the L-shaped economic event, a period of...
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WASHINGTON - Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), member of the Senate Finance Committee, today during the Committee's Consideration of America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 made the following statement:
 
"The desire for reform is universal.  Republicans want to work towards a responsible solution," said Hatch, "but we will not let this moment of crisis justify a solution that we cannot afford and starts us down a path of Washington takeover of our health care system."
 
Hatch concluded, "There is still time to press reset and push for a solution that can bring us all together."
 
While Hatch believes we should "do exactly what American families are...
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When it comes to advertising there's one thing that's really important you need to realize right up front. There are two main parts to any advertisement:

1. The medium (TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, websites, email etc.)
2. What you actually say in that medium

This is an important distinction because...
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If you’re thinking about starting a business, most likely you have dreamed of one that revolves around your interests. But what does the market need or want? Are you noticing trends in what people are buying, or how and where...
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With a record number of new claims for unemployment compensation filed recently, it is no wonder than many employers these days are thinking about unemployment compensation. A recent article in The Washington Post noted that more and more employers are fighting claims for such benefits as a way to minimize some expenses.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services website has some excellent resources on this issue, including tips on how to limit unemployment compensation costs. Some of the tips are:
(1) Have clear written statements of policy and rules concerning employee conduct at work.
(2) Keep accurate records of...
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - One of the first of its kind in the country; a new high-technology business incubation facility designed to spur economic development and enhance the training of Utah's life sciences workforce held its grand opening in Salt Lake City last week. The BioInnovations Gateway (BiG) is an incubator for emerging biotech and medical device companies, a high-tech training facility for the next generation of bio-innovators, and a contract research resource for Utah's life science industry.
 
Located within the Granite Technical Institute (GTI) at 2500 South State Street in Salt Lake City, BiG will support up to seven resident companies, providing access to state-of-the-art biotech, and biomanufacturing, and engineering design and prototyping equipment. In a unique approach compared to incubators nationally, students will work side-by-side resident company staff. In BiG, students from the GTI and Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing programs will earn high school and college degree credit.
 
The main objectives of BiG are:...
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The last mama, Brown Front Leg, finally produced two beautiful kids-one boy, one girl. Our expected quota of eleven had now been filled. No surprise, the new arrivals could say breaaaad upon standing for the first time. Both, quickly learned to run full speed, at full voice, directly at me when they saw me. Had I been small instead of tall I'm sure I would have suffered like an ant being crushed beneath a human foot.

To avoid the onslaught and the cry for breaaaaaad, I found using the front door afforded me some privacy. I could peek around one corner to see if goats were in the pasture, from another corner I could view the pecan grove. All clear, I could make it to daughter Mary's house, or throw scraps out to her chickens. Ultimate success was making it back to my house in silence.

A frequent state of panic producing shortness of breath and a quivering in my gut kept telling me my goat adventure had run its...
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KANAB, UTAH - The colorful Southern Utah town of Kanab will play host to the Third Annual Kanab Storytelling Festival on Friday and Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2009.   Kanab's 2009 festival will feature professional storytellers practicing storytelling as a performance art. The storyteller's words weave images that engage one's imagination.
 
New this year is a living history museum reception where guests will be greeted by Kanab's first woman mayor, who presided over an all woman town council in 1911:  Mary Woolley Chamberlain, by local living history presenter, Joyce Rhodes.
 
The festival will feature storytelling of folk and fairy tales, music, cowboy poetry, campfire storytelling and a cemetery...
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As the Obama era began, the Administration’s objective of utilizing “cap & trade” as the desired policy to address alleged climate change and to reduce our dependence upon foreign sources of oil was front and center…

…I don’t think it will happen

…I don’t think it really matters

Say What?  I don’t think it matters because...
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Big Ten schools Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin have opted to stop printing media guides for their collegiate sports teams. According to The Associated Press, Michigan and Ohio State will save more than $250,000 a year combined. Wisconsin's athletic department will pocket as much as $200,000. The information will be...
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A new manager spends a week at his new office with the manager he is replacing. On the last day the departing manager tells him, "I have left three numbered envelopes in the desk drawer. Open an envelope if you encounter a crisis you can't solve."

Three months down the track there is a major drama, everything goes wrong - the usual stuff - and the manager feels very threatened by it all. He remembers the parting words of his predecessor and opens the first envelope. The message inside says "Blame your predecessor!" He does this and gets off the hook.

About half a year later, the company is experiencing a dip in sales, combined with...
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With Valentines Day almost upon us it is time to remember those that support us in our ventures, long hours, financial stresses and the million other quirky habits we present with. Whether you are currently in a relationship or seeking one there are some rules that you can follow to enhance the peace and tranquility even intimacy.

The first principle of relationship is nurture. All relationships build upon a foundation set by the couple. This foundation must be pure and then it must be nurtured. Everything that grows will grow because it is nourished in some manner. I have some suggestions for finding out how to nourish your relationships as well as some keys to taking time to do the...
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Economic pain in the U.S. is shared by major economic players around the globe.  Much of the developed world is also in recession, while many developing nations are reeling from soft commodity prices, declining exports, rising unemployment, and extremely volatile stock markets.
Two principal players-Europe and Japan-are in worse shape than is the U.S. As noted frequently, the U.S., Europe, and Japan are in recession simultaneously for the first time in the post-WWII period. I have no doubt that European politicians and business leaders were laughing at America 6-12 months ago for the enormous housing and financial mess we got ourselves into. They stopped laughing last...
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Fear. Fear is permeating the marketplaces we do business in. Fear of job cuts, fear of socialism, and fear of who is correct and who is going to give us hope. We have airplanes that crash killing all aboard and miracles in the sky when all is saved by a crisis prepared pilot during yet another plane crash.

Have you noticed that there are so many mixed news messages coming so rapidly that it is difficult to keep up with how to feel? How should I feel? Do you wonder if you are keeping your overriding feelings enough in check that you're not behaving badly? I can't really say if you are behaving badly. I can't really say if government bailouts are going to ...
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“Jonny if you do that again you are going to time-out and I mean it.” I have often wondered why in that frustrating moment of parenting we threaten the child with time-out to think about their behaviors in order to make amends and adjustments hoping to prevent the situation from happening again. Have we possibly confused the gift and value of personal reflection with a desperate threat to change a behavior? How often do you give yourself the gift of personal...
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ST. GEORGE - December 9, from 11-3pm is Tip the DJ at The Pizza Factory in Ancestor Square. All tip money is matched by Bill Randall of PF and given to...
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During the past five years, Griffith has worked in the residential and commercial aspect of the title business. Previous to his work in the title industry, Griffith earned his Bachelor’s degree in business management from Southern Utah University and started his career in banking. A native of Arizona, Brent moved to St. George 13 years ago. He and his wife, Mary have three children.

Griffith will be contributing to a team with over 60 years of combined experience in the titl...
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ST. GEORGE - Escrow officer Linda Wilson has joined Terra Title Company, 1240 E. 100 South, Unit 1, in St. George, where she will be handling escrow closings.

Wilson received her escrow license in 1998 while working with another local title company. Previously, Linda enjoyed an 18-year career in banking, working as a processor, loan officer and service provider. A native of St. George, Wilson is a graduate of USU, with a degree in Home Economics and Consumer Education.

Wilson believes wholeheartedly that providing great customer service is the key to keeping that personal ...
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Thomas Knudson - owner of TKS, Inc. --- Hi-Speed.us Internet Service - has been dealing with the wireless industry in Southern Utah for the last twenty years! He held the first license as a Radio Common Carrier, offering mobile telephone service before we knew what cellular telephones were.
Then as cellular came into the area, TKS migrated into business, police, and emergency service radio sales. Here Knudson provided both installation and equipment maintenance.
Later, Knudson evolved his company to include business telephone systems and computer network design and installation. These developments set the backdrop for TKS to extend existing internet services to business out...
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Owners of new and growing small businesses today know one thing for sure: conditions on the business playing field can change rapidly. The technology that seemed cutting edge last year is now outdated or worse, obsolete. Buyer moods can swing dramatically, and marketing strategies are in constant flux.

Anticipating trends can be extremely valuable to keep you current on everything from sales strategies and customer desires to technology tools and the general economy. As your business grows, change will be inevitable and small business owners should constantly look ahead and seek out ways to shake things up. The more you test the winds of change, the better your chances of ...
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In a delayed exchange transaction structured to satisfy the requirements of §1031, an exchanger has up to 180 calendar days to acquire like-kind replacement property measured from the day the relinquished property is sold. Once initiated, the delayed exchange may be successfully completed (resulting in complete tax deferral), partially completed (resulting in recognition of some capital gain) or it may fail if no like-kind replacement property is acquired (resulting in the recognition of all capital gain generated by the sale).

If the exchange begins in one tax year and extends into the subsequent tax year, the question arises whether the gain realized on the sale is recognized in the year in which the relinquished property was sold or in the subsequent year in which the exchanger received the cash sale proceeds from the qualified intermediary.  In a perfect world, gain would be recognized in the...
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ST. GEORGE - Kay H. Traveller, developer of the Tonaquint Business Park, held a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the new Tonaquint Data Center on site at 1600 South (just off of Dixie Drive), Wednesday October 1, 2008. Presiding at the ribbon cutting was Scott Hirschi, Director of the Washington County Economic Development Council. Todd Brightwell,Economic Development Corporation of Utah was the Keynote Speaker. Current and future clients, contractors, architect, financiers and owners were among those in attendance.  Members of the public and guests were able to tour...
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ST. GEORGE - The Tonaquint Data Center has named Philip Daley as vice president of network engineering. Daley has a bachelor's degree in telecommunications, a master's degree in business from Weber State University, and an extensive background in IT services.

The 28,000-square-foot Tonaquint Data Center is a ...
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Top 10 Clues That You Are Management Material As Retold By Kimberly Stewart
 

• 10. You like not doing anything
• 9. You have no trouble telling others what to do
• 8. Work fascinates you - you can sit and watch it for hours
• 7. You like 'sweating the small stuff'
• 6. You have always been something of a loner
• 5. You don't think 'plan' is a four-letter word
• 4. Your favorite cocktail is milk of magnesia
• 3. On Halloween you dress up as Alex P. Keating
• 2. Your favorite horror writer is ...
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1. Big verdicts, big settlements

 - Starbucks paid $100 million for tips improperly paid to supervisors (California).

 - Walgreens paid $25 million for race bias in promotions.

 -...
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Source: Construction Monitor

I presented legislative and legal updates to the Salt Lake SHRM chapter and the Employers Council within the past two weeks.  Here are the issues we discussed.

1.   LITIGATION THREATS CONTINUE:  There are lots of employment lawsuits ou there right now.  Claims typically increase in times of economic uncertainly (for example see item #2 below).  Some claims are due to the large number of layoffs in 2008-09.  But also note that in 2009, FLSA overtime lawsuits  (over 5,500) increased almost 8% over the previous year.  On average only about 1,500 FLSA lawsuits were filed each year in the 1990s.  Large verdicts and settlements also continuing.  For example:...
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WASHINGTON - Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in which they updated their analysis on the potential budgetary effects of tort reform proposals aimed at limiting the costs related to medical malpractice.  CBO was responding to Hatch's rigorous dialogue with them regarding tort reform during the health care reform debate throughout this year. 
 
"I think this response from the CBO confirms that there is a growing problem regarding the costs of health care lawsuits," Hatch said.  "In years past, the CBO mainly focused on the cost doctors' malpractice insurance premiums and did not adequately address the tendency of doctors to use ‘defensive medicine,' which does little to promote patient health and serves only...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - In a year which has seen many individuals, businesses, and organizations fall to a slumping and weak economy, a 23-year southern Utah tradition has fallen prey to the poor economic conditions. The announcement was made recently at a regular weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of St. George that the Dixie Rotary Bowl would not be held in 2009, a direct result of an inability to raise enough sponsorship dollars to support bowl operations.

The Dixie Rotary Bowl was sanctioned in 1986 as the first post-season college bowl game in Utah. It was created through the efforts of members of the Rotary Club of St. George led by...
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Registration is open for the 5th annual Utah Tourism Conference being held May 13-15, 2009, at the Davis Conference Center in Layton. The conference, sponsored by the Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah Tourism Industry Coalition, will feature members of the state's tourism community learning about the latest industry trends, sharing ideas, and reviewing the year in Utah tourism.
 
“It’s more important than ever to be strong partners in tourism,” says Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “The Utah Tourism Conference is the best venue for us to...
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – The Utah Office of Tourism, part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, began a 20-day national cable advertising run this week highlighting the state’s winter tourism product. The 30-second commercial spots, created by Struck/Axiom, star the reoccurring “snowflake characters” who are deemed worthy to fall on Utah slopes by a humorous snow judge.  The $1 million television campaign incorporates The Greatest Snow on Earth® and Utah Life Elevated® brands, as well as focuses on Utah’s unparalleled access and value for ski travelers.

“With the media turning its attention to...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Town & Country Bank has created a mortgage origination unit within its Loan Department.  The new unit is managed by mortgage veteran, Melodi Mathews, who brings two decades of mortgage experience to Town & Country.  The new unit will source and underwrite residential mortgage loans, and then sell them into the secondary market.  Ms. Mathews will be assisted by Samantha Arnold, who joined the bank as a...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Locally based based Town & Country Bank completed its seventh quarter of operation on November 18th, and reports that assets have grown to $55 million. Deposits and disbursed loans have exceeded projections and stand at $47 million and $37 million respectively. 

"We're very pleased with our consistent growth and the fact that our loan portfolio is healthy," ...
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St. George, Utah, May 2009 - After five full quarters of operation, St. George-based Town & Country Bank reports continued strong growth in deposits and loans. For the three months ending May 18, 2009, the bank saw a quarterly increase in outstanding loans of 23% and a gain in deposits of 29%.

Loan commitments stood at $36.8 million with outstanding loans at $ 31.7 million. Deposits totaled $39.7 million. Growth in both loans and deposits outpaced projections.

"We're pleased that we have demonstrated consistent, measured growth," says Brad L. Hales, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. "The rise in new business indicates that customers appreciate...
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St. George-based Town & Country Bank has hired Brian Taylor as a Vice President & Loan Officer.  Mr. Taylor joins the fast growing lending team at the seven month-old bank.  

Town & Country Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer P. West Martin says, "We're thrilled to bring Brian on board, as the depth of his background and expertise will help us address the heavy loan demand we're currently experiencing."  Taylor has held various executive and managerial p...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - St. George-based Town & Country Bank held a groundbreaking event last week in preparation for their upcoming move to 405 East St. George Boulevard in downtown St. George. 

Town & Country officials gathered with the St. George Chamber of Commerce Sunshiners, members of the City Council, the Mayor and a crowd of other guests for the gold shovel groundbreaking ceremony.

Town & Country Bank CEO Bruce Jensen says, "Our new location on the Boulevard will be more central to many customers and will better accommodate our innovative concierge banking model.  The bank offers teller-less, sit-down service that Jensen said,...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - St. George-based Town & Country Bank announced recently that it will be relocating its offices at years end to 405 East St. George Boulevard. The existing structure on the site will soon be razed and a new building erected.

Bruce Jensen, President & CEO of Town & Country says, "The new location will be more central to many customers and will better accommodate our innovative concierge banking model."  The bank will offer teller-less, sit-down service that Jensen says "gives customers a more intimate and personalized method of banking". To pr...
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ST. GEORGE, UT—Town & Country Bank recently named Brian Taylor as a Senior Vice President. Taylor joined the bank’s loan department in 2008 and has spent more than 31 years in the banking industry, including his years as a bank president with...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH-Town & Country Bank has announced the promotion of business development officers Wendy Holt and Shannon Walker. Holt, who supervises new business activities for the bank, was elevated to the position of Vice President, and Walker to Assistant Vice President. 

"Both of these professionals have delivered exceptional results in a challenging environment and they have become integrally involved in community affairs," says Don Boshard, Senior Vice President and director of human resources for the bank.  Town & Country has consistently outpaced its deposit and loan projections over the last 18 months, and Boshard says "Wendy and Shannon have played a major...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH — With construction of its new building ready for occupancy, locally-based Town & Country Bank relocated both its main banking and loan production offices to 405 East St. George Boulevard effective Monday January, 11th.  The bank closed its current offices at 2 pm last Friday to begin the transition.

Town & Country CEO Bruce Jensen says...
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ST.GEORGE - Baja Broadband, LLC announced a Christmas charity program that gives customers a chance to win free movies, while helping children in need receive gifts this holiday season.

Baja Broadband and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation are working together this year to help children in need receive gifts for Christmas. The management at Baja Broadband is offering 3 free Pay-Per-View movies for those that bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots box at the Baja Broadband office.

Customers can take advantage of the coupon...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - A few weeks ago, I was conducting one of my Wilderness Survival Retreats when on the second day my dog Yanu unfortunately found a Coyote Trap. I had just barely asked everyone in the group to find a nearby solo spot to reflect and write in their journals. My dogs had apparently followed my assistant as he was going to locate his spot.

I had just settled down and taken off my shoes, when I heard painful yelping. I hurriedly put on my shoes and ran as fast as I could to the sounds of pain. In the interim, I could hear my assistant yelling “over here, over here, I think he’s caught in a bear trap.”

When I arrived at the scene I could see clearly the reality of the situation, in other words, no more random assumptions. I quickly held my dog in a still position as my assistant worked diligently to open the jaws of this trap to release my...
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 CEDAR CITY - Around Memorial Day the Dixie National Forest will make available a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for its Motorized Travel Plan (MTP). The DEIS will be available for public comment for 45 days starting when the Notice of Intent is published in the ...
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Do you or your employees have plans to travel outside the U.S. this year? Don't forget to contact the Southwest Utah Public Health Department to take advantage of our International Travel Clinic. Our comprehensive consultations offer pre-travel education (including current safety and cultural information about your destination, food & water safety tips, insect-borne disease prevention, jet lag & high altitude information, and advice on medical needs & travel health insurance).

All immunizations for foreign travel are available, along with prescriptions for motion sickness, high altitude, malaria, and...
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Review
Over a year ago, tenants were willing to put up money for office tenant improvements to customize their space. Today, tenants want nice space, cheap rent, and are unlikely to pay for their own tenant improvements. With the current selection, most tenants are able to find an existing space in the right location with a floor plan that fits.

While Class A vacancy rates remain the lowest at 9%, overall office vacancy rates increased 1.4 % to 11.5%. Although the average asking lease rate is essentially the same as reported last quarter, we did see a reduction in the low asking lease rates in the Class A and Class C segments. The average remained the...
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ST. GEORGE - Angela Madsen is an Advanced Placement and Honors English teacher at the Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts in St. George.  Right now, she's helping her students with a fundraiser to help cover the $85 fee they must pay to take the SAT test.  One day, she'd like to be a school principal, wants to pursue publishing, become an academic writer and intends to dedicate her life to making a social impact through...
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Long-term interest rates and oil prices have been embroiled in frantic tugs of war in recent weeks, as rising expectations of economic stabilization and an impending return to modest U.S. economic growth have pushed such rates and prices higher. Even higher long-term interest rates and higher oil prices could slow the economy and make the expected economic rebound even less dynamic than currently expected.

Mortgage Rates

Officials at both the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury have been vocal in recent months in their desire to see long-term interest rates move lower as perhaps the most cost effective means of helping the nation's housing market to...
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Do you hum along with the Sons of the Pioneers as they Drift Along With the Tumbling Tumble weed? Do tumbleweeds remind you of lonely cowboys, windswept deserts, and wide open spaces? When the wind rolls dry, drifting, piles of them along the road do you have a secret desire to toss in a lighted match?

Bet ya didn't know a tumbleweed is really a Russian thistle. Somehow it got here from the Ukraine. Nature made the plant round to facilitate the roll on and on to spread its up to 250,000 seeds to propagate the...
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WASHINGTON (City), UTAH -  Mike Cass, Owner of Tunex Complete Car Care (located in Washington, UT) recently announced Tunex's first ever Car Giveaway.  Says Cass, "We feel it is very important to support our community, and the families that live in it during these trying economic times."  True to form, the company has created a program to give away a 1996 Dodge Stratus, 4 door, power window's and new paint to a Washington County resident who is in much need and deserving of a vehicle.

"Giving away a vehicle will be great fun for us, but what we are really looking forward to is learning about the wonderful people that live here," explains Mike.  In order to win the vehicle, one must be nominated.  To nominate someone, visit Washington City Community Center, Tunex or the St. George Chamber of Commerce to pick up a nomination form. 

Nomination forms include contact information on the nominee and the person submitting the form as well as a brief narrative as to why the nominee is deserving of...
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WASHINGTON, UTAH -  Mike Cass, Owner of Tunex Complete Car Care, was very excited to present Brett and Teryl Davis with Tunex's First Ever Car Giveaway vehicle.   Says Cass," This was just an awesome opportunity for our company to really create some positive momentum and to truly impact a family's life for the better.  I can't tell you how happy it makes us to give back in this way to a community that has been so supportive to us."

For the Davis' the holidays seem to have come early this year, "Winning this car has been so...
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ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Sitting in the waiting room at Tunex, in preparation for an interview with Mike Cass (Owner), I was really struck by how comfortable I was there.  Many times, automotive repair shops can make us uneasy as we don’t know what to expect.  Coming in, I sort of knew what to expect, or so I thought. 

My visit was to interview Mike and find out more about what motivated him, and...
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ST. GEORGE - KCSG Television and MyNetworkTV have announced an affiliation agreement creating MyKCSGTV.

"MyNetworkTV welcomes the opportunity of working with KCSG-TV, a station that's making a difference in the Salt Lake DMA," says Paul Franklin, executive VP with MNTV.

MyKCSGTV will begin broadcasting on Monday, Aug. 18. MyNetworkTV is a television network owned by the Fox Broadcasting company. It is rated among the top six major commercial broadcast networks in the nation.

According to Wikipedia, MNTV reaches...
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During the past 30 years or so, American economists talked about the “twin deficits,” i.e. those of the budget and of global trade. The budget deficit was viewed as the more critical by many, while others wrung their collective hands about the deficit in trade with other nations.

At times, both deficits grew.  At other times, both deficits declined. Earlier in this decade, the budget deficit was in decline, while the trade imbalance with the world was rising rapidly. These deficits are now moving in opposite directions.

Budget Deficit Rises

In my view, the most critical challenge facing this country...
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