Newsletter August 15, 2006

Welcome to Ideal Living Updates – August 15, 2006

A free monthly newsletter from Ideal Living in Central Utah, www.ideallivingmedia.com, formerly known as RichfieldMall.com.

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IN MEMORIUM

Ideal Living wishes to express its most sincere condolences to the Winkel and Odgen families, over the sudden loss of Kade Winkel and Tyson Ogden, as well as to the others, and their families, who were involved in the tragic accident on August 12. Please remember that the thoughts and prayers of our community are with you.

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WHAT’S NEW?

• More companies which are said to have expressed an interest in Richfield locations include the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, and the Walgreens drugstore and household goods retail chain. A large “Hotel Coming Soon” sign has appeared on 1250 South, on the vacant property just east of KFC/Taco Bell.

• Pressure is mounting on local residents in regards to selling properties for the proposed coal-fired power plant. Many locals are talking about whether land owners and brokers in the area will sell to the Las Vegas-based NEVCO/TDA Foundation/Sevier Power Company. Some locals speculate that the deal could fall through, since one local landowner reportedly opposed a meat packing plant which was to be built near land he owned, which would have provided beef to McDonalds throughout the Western United States, but would have upset the agrarian lifestyle we have traditionally enjoyed in the area and inhibited the development of homes and ranchettes, a major industry in Sevier County. And, as one resident said, “Thousands of tons of smog would be a heck of a lot worse than the smell of cow manure.” In any case, people are wondering, especially since Cecilia Bytheway, chair of the Sevier County Planning and Zoning Commission, basically told the Nevada coal company they had no legal standing applying for permits, etc., unless they owned the land they proposed to develop. Sources report that when the Las Vegas coal company first approached locals for agreements to buy their land in the future, they reportedly encouraged the residents to keep the sales secret from other residents, even family members.

• Wage wars are spreading throughout the area. While Washington Democrats keep trying to get Republicans to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7 per hour, Richfield fast food restaurants and other retail establishments have already raised wages for their workers in a bid to get — and keep — good employees. Many states have raised the minimum wage to $7.50 or higher in order to provide decent standards of living for workers, based upon many studies which have repeatedly found that raising minimum wages does not result in fewer jobs, workers or business success. Many local business owners have been reporting that it is increasingly hard to find and keep good retail service employees. Recently the Richfield KFC raised wages above the minimum, and when the neighboring Wendy’s raised their wages even more, KFC raised their starting wage to $7 per hour, and started advertising the fact on their sign out front. Other local restaurants and retail establishments are also raising wages well above the minimum, and are reportedly being scaled up throughout all positions, not just lowest-tier workers. With Target, Home Depot and a new IFA coming, competition for workers is likely to increase and pressure wages even higher, since such businesses generally pay well above the minimums throughout their chains. Locally, we enjoy a higher quality of service than elsewhere in the country, and the pleasant and helpful attitude of retail workers helps to maintain the positive and friendly atmosphere we enjoy here in Central Utah.

• Locations of new businesses in Richfield have been announced. Reportedly, the new Target will be located on the property immediately south of Super Wal-Mart, between Jones & Demille Engineering and Highway 118, with the new strip mall facing it. Great location, but no word yet on whether it will be a regular or Super Target (offering groceries), although some seem to feel it will be the latter. Apparently, the new, larger IFA store is to be built on the south side of along 1250 South, the road leading to Richfield’s south I-70 interchange, next to the trucking company on the corner. Home Depot is said to be being built behind the Hampton Inn and Wingers. With property values exceeding $110,000 per acre, these companies are making a serious investment in supporting the area’s predicted growth.

• Excitement over the area’s oil reserves continue to inspire rapid investment. The new oil well being drilled above Annabella was reportedly assembled in near-record time, and set to work before the Texas crew contracted to actually perform the drilling had even arrived here.

• NEVCO’s proposal for a coal-fired power plant is facing some problems. First, a lawsuit was filed by two citizens on behalf of the Clean Air citizens group, against the Sevier County Commission and the Sevier County Planning and Zoning Commission for allegedly breaking the law in several matters. The suit asks the court to overturn the recent zoning change made to allow for the proposed coal plant. The suit also asks for court costs, legal fees, and that the commissions be fined $10,000 for punitive damages. The county has a month to respond to the suit, which could be heard by the court as early as October.

The suit states that when the group representing local citizens made verbal requests to the county on these matters, as well as for information that should have been publicly available, they have been repeatedly told by Don Brown, Sevier County Attorney, “If you think you have a problem, take it to District Court.” The suit claims that commission meeting notices have not been posted as required by state law — at least 24 hours in advance, in multiple venues or publications — to allow public input in the goings-on of the county. The suit appears to allege that recently, agendas seem to have been formulated at the last minute and posted on the door right before the meeting starts.

The suit also makes conflict of interest claims, specifically in regards to Newell Hales, Sevier County Planning and Zoning Commission member, and 25% owner in Hales Sand and Gravel. Hales’ company supplies construction materials and is said by many locals to be an obvious, potential beneficiary if a coal power plant were to be built in the area. The suit alleges that inappropriate conversations between him and a NEVCO official, Craig Cox, were overheard at the March Planning meeting.

The suit says that the July Planning and Zoning Commission meeting should not have taken up the issue of preliminary approval for the proposed plant. This approval, one of several authorizations which must be given, was granted despite a dearth of information from NEVCO about the plant. In granting preliminary approval, the Planning Commission stipulates that the Las Vegas-based NEVCO proves they own the land in question and have an agreement in place to use Utah Power’s adjacent substation. (You may watch the taped proceedings on Local10 and on Google Video now.)

Why the continued struggle over a proposed coal-fired power plant — which hasn’t even begun to be designed yet? KSL has called it a classic, David-and-Goliath struggle. Many believe the proposed location for the coal-fired power plant — in the middle of the Valley — would have severe public health effects, far beyond the strong smell and the visual impact of tons of smog produced each day by the plant.

For example, many local women are talking about their alarm over an article which in Oprah Winfrey’s magazine, describing harrowing problems in small communities associated with coal-fired energy. In Oprah’s July 2006 issue, the article focuses on a community which allowed the coal industry in — based upon their promises of jobs and prosperity — which is desperately trying to get rid of their coal plant now that their area has suffered economic and social ruin, with widespread disease and death among the few once-happy families which still live there. One frequently-referenced passage in the article states:

“As an energy source, coal has always been a devil’s bargain. The price may be low, but the hidden cost is high. According to the American Lung Association, air pollution from coal-fired power plants causes 24,000 premature deaths each year; toxic mercury released from power plants — which people are most often exposed to by eating mercury-laden fish — damages the brains of developing fetuses [causing spontaneous abortions]. Most significantly, our addiction to coal is helping to destabilize the planet’s climate. Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming, comes from burning coal.”

• Do you wish your business had more ways to reach customers? We can help you with effective, inexpensive marketing through our local television, print and Internet options.

SPECIAL: With Ideal Living, having your own television commercial is both easy and inexpensive… Really. Now, for a limited time, if you sign up for 3 months of commercials on Local10 for only $150 per month (around 550 viewings per month), you can have your commercial made for FREE and get FREE monthly updates to it for specials, sales, new items or services, and so forth. That’s like getting 50% off! Reach nearly 20,000 viewers in Sevier and Sanpete Counties with compelling Ideal Living local programming on Local10! Just call 201-9884 today for more information.

• Please note: Our community’s information web site now works with two URLs: www.RichfieldMall.com and www.IdealLivingMedia.com. Several new areas have been added and some others have been rearranged. Enjoy! We appreciate your visits, and thank everyone for their kind support!
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NEWS – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/news.html

Recent headlines added to our local news archive in Central Utah News:

• Richfield teens killed in car accident
• Sevier sheriff deals out “political payback”
• On-going national coverage of increasingly popular Utah tourism spots
• Hwy 89 Designated as Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area
• BLM Auctions Record Oil & Gas Leases
• Plus much more in our news archive…
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/calendar.html

Upcoming local events include:

• August 18-21: Play: Into The Woods (Junior), Sevier Valley Center, Richfield.
• August 21: First Day of School, Sevier County School District.
• August 24: 12-3 p.m. Food Drop at Food Bank in Richfield. See details above.
• September 1-2: Walk and Roll Across America, Sevier Valley Center, Richfield.
• September 4: Labor Day – No School.
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IDEAL LIVING TV – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/tv.html

Video coverage now available on CentraCom’s Local10 — and online now — for:

• Little Wonder Travel
• Elsinore Heritage Days Festival
• Cowboy Poetry: CR Wood, Tyrel Curtis, and Phil & Don Kennington
• Central Utah Antique Tractors Association
• BMX Bicycle Motocross Racing in Elsinore
• Careers: Working as a Realtor, with Jean Ward
• Pioneer Log Cabin
• The Dorius House, a 1897 Queen Anne Victorian-Style Home in Ephraim
• Barney Company Outdoor Outfitters
• July Sevier County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
• Central Utah Art Center
• National Guard 222 Homecoming Parade
• Restaurant Review: Sandi’s Drive-Inn
• Sevier County Art Awards
• Scandinavian Heritage Festival and Parade
• Little Wonder Cafe
• Frula Balkan Dance Company
• Plus much more!
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ARTS – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/calendar.html

Arts & Crafts include:

• Roll-up Pencil Kit
• Bandanna Clothing
• Marshmallow Blowgun
• Floral Patchwork Tote
• Pressed Leaves Pictures
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FOOD – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/food.html

Recipes include:

• Easy & Fun Brown Bag Lunches
• Red, White & Blue Recipes
• Fun Egg Recipes
• Irish Recipes
• Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes, Breakfast Buns & Banana Pudding
• Slow Cooker Entrees
• Shrimp Recipes
• Wendy’s Chili
• Famous restaurant salad dressings
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INTERNET – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/internet.html

Free Internet Fun:

• Break out your inner pirate — and play some fun puzzle-type games in a virtual world — in Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates
• Visit more virtual worlds with Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom, or Neopets!
• Plus, new random casual games…
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FOOD – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/food.html

Recipes include:

• Easy & Fun Brown Bag Lunches
• Red, White & Blue Recipes
• Fun Egg Recipes
• Irish Recipes
• Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes, Breakfast Buns & Banana Pudding
• Slow Cooker Entrees
• Shrimp Recipes
• Wendy’s Chili
• Famous restaurant salad dressings
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LATEST UPDATES – http://IdealLivingMedia.com/

• Visit www.IdealLivingMedia.com for news and business updates and other information for and about our “ideal” community! Thanks for visiting!
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MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

Please support the Richfield Mall and other local businesses by patronizing our great sponsors!

5 Star Rental & Sales – http://www.5starrental.com
Barney Outdoor Outfitters – http://barneyoutdooroutfitters.com
Blake Electric Co. – http://richfieldmall.com/blakeelectric
CentraCom Interactive – http://centracominteractive.com
Coldwell Banker Preferred Properties – http://richfieldmall.com/coldwellbanker
Comfort Inn – Richfield – http://richfieldmall.com/comfortinn
Hal & Jean Ward – http://centralutahhomes.com
Ideal Dairy – http://www.theidealdairy.com
Jones Glass and Decorating – http://www.jonesglassanddecorating.com/
Intermountain Computer Services – http://intermountaincomputer.com
Local10 – http://local10.tv
Little Wonder Travel – http://littlewondertravel.com
Mountain View Vision – http://mountainviewvision.com
Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings – http://FloorsandWindows.com
Ogden’s Superstore – http://ogdens.homeappliances.com

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Ideal Living Updates, a publication of Ideal Living Media.

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All contents are (c) 2006 Ideal Living Media, a public service of Ovid Learning Foundation, Inc.
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