2008 Community Fishing Guide Now Available

While getting away from it all to a quiet mountain lake or remote reservoir is what fisherman dream of, heading down to the community pond with your kids in tow can be just as enjoyable. And fishing with the wee ones will not only get them outdoors but foster in them a love of nature and a store of fond memories of fun with the family.

Utahs DWR (Division of Wildlife Resources) has a webpage with articles on what you need to know about fishing in Utah and a downloadable pamphlet with directions to the ponds they have stocked with fish for this fun family activity.

Take a Vacation in Utah -- save gas and travel dollars and support your economy

A recent article in the Salt Lake Tribune suggests that we stay in Utah this summer and keep our vacation dollars in the state. With rising gas costs (and that affects airline ticket prices, too) it just makes sense to stick close to home. After all, we have so much here that you probably haven't ever seen (or haven't visited in a long while.)

The most popular places such as Zion National Park, Arches National Park or Lake Powell are only a taste of the beauty and diversity Utah has to offer. How about some of the lesser-known places like Capitol Reef or the San Rafael Swell?

Need an idea? I have just the prefect book to get you started: Backroads of Utah! And with my article on finding the cheapest gas in Utah, you'll be all set to go.

Find Cheap Gas in Utah

Gas prices are out of control. So much so that you think twice before going for a Sunday drive, or running into town for a Big Mac Attack. Maybe there should be a resurgence of the corner grocery store so you can get what you need without using gas to get there.

Find Gas Cheap In Utah has a list of links where the prices around the state are at their lowest. Give these gas stations your business; not only to save yourself some money, but to support them so they can continue to offer the lowest prices.

Heroes Among Us - Crandall Canyon Mine Disaster Memorial

Heroes Among Us is a new memorial to the men who lost their lives in the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster. Former nurse and now full-time sculptor Karen Jobe Templeton was selected as the artist to sculpt the monument that will reside on the road to the mine, in full view of the schoolyard where the families gathered to await news of their loved ones. Read more about the monument and Karen at http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9365045 and visit her website at http://www.templetonsculpture.com/

How to Correctly Pronounce Utah's Names and Places

Several of the words and place names we Utah'ns say every day might give a newcomer pause as to how they are correctly pronounced. Here is some help with a few of them. I also made an mp3 to help in case you want to actually hear them.

Touring Salt Lake City

Got friends in town and want them to get a great view of downtown Salt Lake City? Or maybe you have lived here for years, but would just love to learn some interesting facts about downtown's buildings and history. Or maybe you are new to town and want to get an overview of what is here.

Here are some of the ways you can tour the city in style.

Nine Mile Canyon Rock Art in peril

This story on preservation.org talks about how all the trucks going in and out of Nine Mile Canyon for natural gas exploration are causing a drastic increase in the amount of flying dust. That translates to damage to rock art made thousands of years ago.

Despite the fact that Nine Mile Canyon was included on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2004 because historians and concerned citizens were afraid of this very thing happening.

If you care about the rock art (a part of our heritage), send your comments to the Bureau of Land Management today at UT_Pr_Comments@blm.gov and copy the National Trust at crc@nthp.org.