Month: December 2011

The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, along with its Community Action Committee, will be hosting their bi-annual “Issues Over Eggs” on Friday, December 16.  The public forum will host state Representatives Don Ipson, Brad Last, Mike Noel, Evan Vickers and Senator Steve Urquhart.  Each elected official will speak about the upcoming 2012 legislative session, the issues that will impact the residents and businesses of southern Utah, and our viable economy.  If time allows, representatives will take questions from the audience.  This event will be held at Intermountain Healthcare’s Foremaster Auditorium located at 1424 East Foremaster Drive from 7:30 am to 9:00 am.  A continental breakfast will be provided by Intermountain Healthcare.  “Issues Over Eggs” is free and open to the public.

The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce Community Action Committee works as a political advocate for businesses in the St. George area.  For more information on the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, contact Chamber Executive Director Gregg McArthur at 435-628-1650.

Southern Utah is well known for year-long softball play, attracting players and fans not only from Utah, but from surrounding states as well. Nothing showcases that more than the annual Toys for Kids Softball Tournament sponsored and run by the St. George City Recreation Department.

 

The rules of the tournament are simple; it is a co-ed, double elimination bracket with a small registration fee to cover facility use and to pay officials. The difference, and reason for its namesake is, every player listed on a team roster is required to donate a toy of $10 in value.

 

If a toy is not donated then the player must donate at least $10 in place of the toy, otherwise they are not allowed to participate. All toys and donations are then collected and distributed to needy children throughout southern Utah.

 

This year’s tournament has had a significant increase in participation, with a record- breaking 87 teams signing up for the event, translating to over 1,000 toys donated. This year officials had to use four softball complexes to accommodate all of the teams, including a rented complex from Santa Clara City.

 

“It’s always a lot of fun to have this tournament and help the needy kids of southern Utah,” said Tournament Director Krista Mayes. “It’s one of our most popular softball events and it seems to keep getting bigger and bigger each year.”

 

Wet and cold conditions did not dampen the spirit of competition nor the spirit of giving, as temperatures dropped into the low 40’s and a light rain began to fall around 8 o’clock. Teams continued to arrive, delivering their donated toys, and then playing their respective games.

 

Sandy Wilkinson and her family have made it an annual family tradition each holiday season. Traveling from Las Vegas, she and her husband, children and grand children pack up with gloves, bats and toys to have fun for a good cause.

 

“It’s a good thing, you’re bringing toys for a worthy cause and that’s what drew us to it,” Wilkinson said. “We saw that and said, this is fun and it’s a good cause.”

 

After all of the teams arrived and toys were collected, it took a large tow trailer and full-size box truck stuffed full to carry the toys away to be wrapped and delivered to children on Christmas morning–no doubt making that blessed day a little bit brighter for not only those who receive, but also for those who gave.

A kick of the leg and flick of the wrist revs the motor to life, accelerating the heart and increasing adrenaline levels– this is motocross.

For 10 years, motocross enthusiasts in southern Utah have waited and wished for a local track to quench their thirst for speed, dirt and big air on two wheels. This past October the long wait was over and wishes were granted with the grand opening of the St. George Motocross Track just west of the new municipal airport.

The track, owned and operated by Judd Palmer and his family, is the fulfillment of a dream fueled by high-octane passion and support from a motorcycle crazy family that rides together every weekend.

Origin of the Track

Palmer, a former professional motocross racer, and owner of his own excavating company, grew tired of travelling to other tracks at long distances to feed his need for speed. Hence the idea was born to design, build and groom his very own racetrack–a track that could not only satisfy the wants and desires of him and his family, but also serve local enthusiasts and be capable of hosting nationally sanctioned races on a regular basis.

“I’ve always loved it [motocross], so when my kids got old enough to do it; there is a place to give them to ride,” Palmer said.

Palmer built most of the track himself and also self-financed the project along with his wife, Michon, and kids, who are all avid fans of motocross and ride together every weekend.

“It’s great! Our whole family is out here, we do it Saturdays and Sundays and we’re riding other days; it’s great family time,” Michon Palmer said.

The track sits on a 30-acre site complete with corkscrew turns, jumps, barrel patches and ramps. There is also ample space for trailers and parking for racers and spectators alike.

Response to and Future of the Track

Currently there is at least one major race scheduled per month throughout the year. Palmer and his group estimate each race will bring in approximately 300 to 500 racers with their respective crews as well as spectators.

“On practice days, we have anywhere between 80 to 100 riders and then on a race day we’ll bring in 300 to 500 riders, which means there will be 800 to 1,000 spectators and fans in attendance,” Palmer said.

Motocross riders have also welcomed the track with open arms and are excited for the possibilities it brings.

“I really like it. There’s a lot of sand which makes it fun and challenging,” Alec Anderson said.

“They just put in a new section, it’s either an on/off or you jump the whole thing. I like that a lot, it’s got a good variety to it, and it’s a real good to ride.”

Palmer explained the track is not exclusively meant or designed for motocross. He envisions and is currently working to bring BMX bicycle races to the track along with remote control car races and three and four-wheeler themed events as well.

Prices to attend races will depend on the race and size and currently Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for practice for anyone who owns a track-legal motorcycle or ATV at a cost of $25 per rider. Spectators are welcome to the practices for free so long as they sign a non-rider consent waiver at the entry gate. For more information and an up-to-date race schedule, go to
stgeorgemx.com
.

Economic Benefits

The new track has also been welcomed by the local community and will contribute to the local economy by bringing visitors to Utah’s Dixie.

Allen Christensen, marketing manager of the track and owner of Moto Zoo Power Sports,  (
mzpowersports.com
) says the economic boost will mostly affect hotels, food establishments and motor sports shops.

Christensen said that races are staged for two or three days at a time, meaning a potential large number of spectators and racers will be here for extended weekends looking for things to do away from the track.

If estimates by the track operators are correct, St. George and surrounding communities in Washington County could see a significant economic boost come race weekends.

 

Dixie State College administrators, representatives from The Center for Education, Business and the Arts (CEBA), Kanab City and Kane County, received a $15,000 donation from Zions Bank Friday to fund an annual grant program to support artists, businesses and art educators.

Zions Bank President and CEO A. Scott Anderson presented the check to DSC President Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld and Kanab City Mayor Nina Laycook during a brief ceremony at the downtown St. George Zions Bank branch office.

The donation by Zions Bank will go toward funding grants to be awarded to a number of homegrown Utah artists, small business owners, and art educators who attend the annual Business of Art Seminar, which is held each November in Kanab. Officials from DSC and CEBA are currently developing the guidelines and criteria for which each grant will be awarded.

The annual Business of Art Seminar for visual artists in all disciplines is presented by Dixie State College and CEBA in an effort to educate artists and enhance their business skills. This free seminar features an exciting schedule of classes and workshops, presented by knowledgeable professionals from throughout Utah. 

The Washington County Area Task Force found $339,000 in hidden compartments of a vehicle recently, and are now investigating a possible drug case.

Highway Patrol were conducting a traffic stop on I-15 when their police dog indicated that it smelled what was most likely drugs. Given permission to search the vehicle, Task Force officers took the car to a local mechanic, but nothing was found.

The Task Force then took the vehicle to a second garage, where the mechanic dismantled a secret compartment containing 11 separate packages adding up to $339,000. The search in total took up almost an entire day.

Because the duration of the search, the driver was allowed to continue home. 

A hearing will be scheduled following the investigation. 

 

Members of the 222 and the 213 returned home today to hundreds of friends and family at the Cedar City Airport. These troops were recently originally deployed for a year starting in August 2011 but a early homecoming is welcomed by all.