Newsletter September 6, 2007

Welcome to Ideal Living Updates – September 6, 2007
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WHAT’S NEW?

• Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment are coming to Richfield to speak about the health impacts of the proposed coal-fired power plant TONIGHT — Thursday, September 6, at 7 p.m. — at the Quality Inn Conference Center in Richfield, located at 540 South Main Street. The event is free, all are welcome, and cash door prizes will be given to some attendees.

Local and state media will be interviewing the influential group during their visit, comprised of leading medical doctors employed at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Fellow Intermountain Healthcare employees from the Sevier Valley Hospital are also expected to be in attendance at the meeting tonight.

The group of doctors meets often with Governor Huntsman and other air quality officials, and are calling for a moratorium on building any new coal-fired power projects as the most important step to improving the unhealthy, smog-filled skies Utah is increasingly known for.

In a local TV and radio commercial — available here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8238925494738616215 — the group cites their position in the following statement: “Nationwide, air pollution from coal power plants causes 26,000 premature deaths every year from heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer. But the most deadly elements in smoke stacks are mercury and radiation. A coal plant produces even more radiation than a nuclear plant. The slag piles left from these plants are as hazardous as nuclear waste.”

For more information about the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, visit their web site at http://uphe.org .

• The new Chameleon Room, at Monroe Main Center in Monroe, had some fun, musical events scheduled.

Open Mic Nights are every Friday evening from 8 to 10 p.m. The events are free, and anyone is welcome to perform — perhaps along to a karaoke CD, or with acoustic guitars. All are welcome.

Many CentraCom cable customers have been enjoying Ideal Living’s coverage of a recent acoustic guitar talent show for teens. Now, a new acoustic guitar talent contest — this time for adults — is beginning. Anyone 18 or older may sign up by September 14, with a $15 entrance fee. Each contestant will perform on four different Saturday evenings. Attendance is free, and those in the audience may submit their own ratings of each contestant’s performance. The finals will be televised on Ideal Living. Each contestant will receive prizes, and the first place finisher will win a fine, black-and-red, Washburn acoustic guitar from the Paul Stanley KISS Signature Series. For more information about appearing or attending any of these events, contact Sue or Henry Reese at Monroe Main Center, located at the corner of Main and Center Streets in Monroe, or by calling (435) 527-0915.

• A remarkable public hearing regarding the proposed coal-fired power plant was held on August 23 at the filled Sevier Valley Center Theater. The meeting, sponsored by the Sevier County Planning Commission, was a legal requirement in their considerations of permitting a proposed coal-fired power plant in Sigurd. The meeting was a substantive, generally civil exchange of reasons for and against the proposed plant.

The handful who spoke in support of the proposed plant, generally seemed to speak from the same list of reasons for the plant. Reasons they cited for the plant included that they wanted jobs or income from the project. They claimed the plant would not be as dirty, unhealthful or dangerous as some other coal plants, and that their desire for income overrode any health, safety, and public interest concerns. Other than a few speakers — perhaps one or two people — those who spoke in favor were NEVCO owners, employees, their family members, or associates.

The vast majority of attendees filling the theater were clearly against the permitting the proposed plant. Those who spoke against the plant addressed a wide range of reasons the proposed plant would be harmful to public health, the local economy, and public resources, including irrigation water and farming issues.

Government officials requested the presence of armed and uniformed police at the meeting to control the crowds who were against the proposal.

To view video coverage of the event, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2h628b -or- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8414795388393422263 .

• Rod Clark, principal of NEVCO/Sevier Power, recently admitted that the proposed coal-fired power plant is “a gamble.” He reportedly stated this was based upon several factors. Included among them was the rising costs of the proposed plant, which has skyrocketed from an initial $350 million to now around $600 million. Financing for the project has not been secured, and is becoming more difficult to obtain during the growing fall-out from sub-prime mortgages crisis, now spreading to effect banks and other financial institutions. Further, there is no purchaser for the proposed plant, and apparently there are no customers signed up for the power the plant would produce. He explained it was a “chicken-and-egg” situation — that financing was difficult to obtain without customers, and that no customers would sign up without financing and construction underway.

• Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, or UAMPS, is now suing the California cities who have prevented the construction of a new IPP coal power plant in the Delta area. The suit is said to be a last-ditch attempt to save the project, which was once thought to be a “sure thing” by many industry experts.

A specific local connection is that Sevier County Planning Commission member, Doug Gadd, represents Monroe City in UAMPS, and thus may be included as a party to its lawsuit(s). A photo of him, and other board members, is located here: http://www.uamps.com/new_page_11.htm (he is in the middle of the page).

What is unclear is how much of a conflict of interest this presents to his on-going work on the Planning Commission in its work on the proposed coal-fired plant in Sigurd.

All local government officials have signed statements that they will avoid any “Conflict of Interest” in the matters they deal with — meaning that government officials must recuse themselves (leave the room, state no opinions, and offer no comments upon) any matters which could effect themselves, their families or their associates. It is believed that these signed legal statements could mean that should the County be found liable in a lawsuit over any such matter, that any officials with conflict of interests must indemnify the County by paying any damages from their own pockets.

• Some long-time, local residents are selling their vacation timeshare properties in the Palm Springs, California and Branson, Missouri areas. Both properties offer remarkable recreation opportunities, as well as providing “RCI Gold Crown – Five Star” access to trade time at vacation destinations across the globe. For photos and details, as well as info about how timeshares work and more, visit http://timesharesrus.blogspot.com .

• A new Microtel hotel is definitely coming to Richfield, after overcoming numerous hurdles in gaining approval from Richfield City.

• 30 acres in Monroe have reportedly been sold to mobile home dealer. The property is said to be intended to be used as a trailer park, and is located next to the White Fence Farms development, which earlier this year sold six lots to the Six County association for low-cost, build-it-yourself homes.

• Google now has a 411 phone service which will connect you free to any business phone number. The service is entirely voice-activated, and includes businesses near and far. Dial from any phone
1-800-GOOG-411 (or 1-800-466-4411), and say the city, state, and the name of the business. They can connect you to any business, anywhere, and/or you can request the business’ other details, such as location.

• The new Home Depot in Richfield has hired many local employees to begin stocking, training and to have a “soft” opening soon. Wal-mart, for instance, is said to have lost over 40 employees to Home Depot. The positions are said to pay very well for the area, and include full medical benefits for employees and their families. The Home Depot web site has numerous positions for the Richfield store listed here: http://tinyurl.com/32qa49 .

• If your garden has grown too much produce for your family to handle, please bring your excess to the Richfield Food Bank, where it can be used by needy working families and seniors. Central Utah Food Sharing is located at 91 East 1000 South in Richfield or you may call them for more info at (435) 896-5225. Staff are available to take your donations Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thank you!

• Tired of expensive satellite television, or slow Internet speeds? Sign up with CentraCom cable, where a basic cable channel package with high speed Internet costs only $37 per month. Yes, that’s quality cable TV plus high speed Internet, in a single, convenient bill, for only $37 per month.

And, if you sign up via Ideal Living at http://www.centracom.com/idealliving , or mention Ideal Living on the telephone, you can get one month free with a one-year agreement, or two months free with a two-year agreement, and lock your low prices in for the length of the contract, saving you even further.

Movie channels are also available, and again, if you sign up via Ideal Living, you get them free for three months! Upgrades to the entire system have dramatically increased upload speeds in all areas, and TV channels continue to be added to the various television packages, at no additional charge.

Check it out today: http://www.centracom.com/idealliving . Your subscription, available in nearly every part of Sevier County, helps support Ideal Living’s services. We appreciate your support!

• If you need help with a web site, or just have a news tip to share, give Ideal Living Media a call at 633-4195. Thank you!
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