August 18 & 19, 2003
Utah State in the News
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
LAB HOPES TO
BEAT CHEATGRASS: TEAM IS BREEDING STRONGER STRAINS OF NATIVE
UTAH GRASSES
A blackened landscape and broken budgets of firefighting agencies
are just the immediate effects of a season of wildfires crackling
across the dry range. Without proper conservation in the wake
of a wildfire, the damage to vegetation and wildlife habitat
can become permanent. Verlin Smith, renewable resources branch
chief for the Bureau of Land Management in Utah, says Utah and
other parts of the West recovering from wildfire devastation
are now locked in a second battle. But the opponent has changed
from flames to cheatgrass. ... Others include Doug Johnson,
a plant ecophysiologist; Steve Larson, molecular geneticist;
and Tom Monaco, plant ecologist. The lab is located on the campus
of Utah State University in Logan. (Deseret News, 08/18/03)
click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,510047800,00.html
NEW DEAN AT USU
Christine Hailey was named associate dean for the Utah State
University College of Engineering this July. A licensed professional
engineer, Hailey comes to Utah State with experience in industry
and academia. Hailey most recently served as the department
head of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at
Tyler. Hailey worked with the faculty at UT Tyler to develop
its new mechanical engineering program and also worked to strengthen
the research program in the department. (Herald Journal, 08/17/03)
STUDY LINKS AGGRESSION
AND TIME IN DAY CARE
A new study links extended time spent in day care and aggressive,
disobedient behavior in children – though researchers
say parents should be reassured that most children in day care
do just fine. ... But many parents may not have that flexibility,
said Lori Roggman, a Utah State University human development
professor. "In order to support their families, they need
two incomes and in order to have two incomes, they need help
with child care," she said. "The next question is
how do they find good quality child care so they aren't in a
situation that is going to be bad for the kid." (Salt Lake
Tribune, 08/17/03) click on: http://www.sltrib.com/2003/aug/08172003/utah/84647.asp
TIPS ON PREVENTING
TROUBLE WITH BEARS
Run-ins with bears have increased in recent years and are likely
to continue as bears search for food in drought conditions.
Recently, a bear encounter in Rocky Mountain National Park left
two campers with torn scalps. Understanding the animals is the
best approach to avoiding trouble, said Utah State University
professor Barrie Gilbert. Gilbert has spent three decades working
with animals in the wild as a researcher, conservationist, teacher
and specialist in animal behavior. The USU bear specialist has
had personal experience with bear attacks, having barely survived
an attack by a grizzly 23 years ago in the Yellowstone backcountry.
(Deseret News, 08/17/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,510047657,00.html
CHICKENS, HORSES
AND MOSQUITOES WERE INFECTED
West Nile virus has arrived in Utah, health officials confirmed
Friday. Blood taken from two chickens near Price contained the
virus. In addition, Friday morning tests found that two horses
from Uintah and Emery counties also are infected. The virus
was also preliminarily found in two batches of about 100 mosquitoes
each from Utah and Uintah counties, health officials said. There
are no known human cases in Utah, they said. ... Late last week,
Utah State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory processed
the initial tests, which were positive, of "sentinel"
chicken blood. Further testing at the National Veterinary Services
Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, Friday confirmed the chickens were
infected. Chickens are used as sentinels to detect when West
Nile is present as a warning for humans, horses and other animals.
(Standard Examiner, 08/16/03) click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030815231002045491
VETERANS HISTORY
PROJECT TOUCHES UTAH: BOX ELDER INTERVIEWER COLLECTS VETERANS'
STORIES BEFORE THEY'RE LOST
Bruce Baird was drafted in 1941. On Dec. 7 of that year, Baird
went to church on his first weekend pass from basic training.
"It was there in the meetings, that it was announced that
Pearl Harbor had been bombed," he said. Claudia Ross stopped
the tape recorder. "Bruce, this is great stuff! Do you
understand that?" she said. "Of course I understand
it. I lived it," he said. ... Ross became interested in
helping when she saw an article in the paper about a training
session at Utah State University. She went, and decided interviewers
in Box Elder County needed some sort of organization. (Standard
Examiner, 08/16/03) click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030816001517976501
LOCALS SHARE HOW
TO MAKE YARD DRY BUT NOT BORING
A desert landscape can be more than dust devils and tumbleweeds.
With a little bit of direction, you can create a yard that conserves
water and still looks appealing. ... if you have an existing
lawn and want to remove turf, you can rent a sod cutter or you
can kill the grass by spraying it and digging it up, said Jerry
Goodspeed, an agent with the Utah State University Extension
Service in Weber County. (Standard Examiner, 08/16/03) click
on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030816114509622109
LIFE AT THE TOP:
RUMORS GROW LIKE RHUBARB AT DAVIS FAIR
It would appear that I owe a few of you an apology. Apparently,
last week's column upset some of the good people who sit on
the Weber County Fair's board of directors, as well as a handful
of other Ogden-area farmer types who dispute my unfair characterization
of the pig and know it to be one wild and crazy barnyard animal.
So like I say, I owe some of you an apology. ... Debbie Amundsen,
who works for the Davis County branch of the Utah State University
Extension Service and oversees the horticulture exhibit, says
2003 was no exception. (Standard Examiner, Mark Saal, column,
08/16/03) click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030816190501501992
EXTENSION OFFICE
PLANS CLASS ON COOKING WHEAT
The Utah County office of Utah State University Extension is
hosting "Wheat, the Staff of Life" cooking classes.
The class will be held Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon
at the Historic County Courthouse, 51 S. University, room 306.
Call 801-379-8460 for more information. (Deseret News, 08/16/03)
click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,510047474,00.html
LEAVITT TO FACE
GRILLING IN EPA QUEST HARD QUESTIONS LOOM FOR UTAH GOVERNOR
ON OLYMPIC BRIBERY, THE ENVIRONMENT
Olympic bribery. Sexual abstinence. And a deadly fish parasite.
Questions about those and other issues await Utah Gov. Mike
Leavitt in his quest to lead the Bush administration's Environmental
Protection Agency. As he prepares for confirmation hearings
in October, Leavitt faces a litany of inquiries about his three-term
governance of the Beehive State. ... 'He's a compassionate conservative,'
said Michael Lyons, a political-science professor at Utah State
University. 'And in the Utah Republican Party, that can be viewed
as a dangerous leftist radical.' Since being elected governor
in 1992, Leavitt has built a following of well-heeled political
contributors who helped him twice snag re-election. (The Denver
Post, 08/15/03)
Monday, August 18, 2003
2 SENTINEL CHICKENS
SHOW W. NILE VIRUS
Blood samples from two sentinel chickens in Carbon County showed
evidence of West Nile virus and further samples have been sent
off for definitive lab tests, state health officials said. Fresh
blood samples from the chickens were drawn this week and sent
to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames, Iowa,
said Charles Brokopp, director of epidemiology and laboratory
services for the state Department of Health. Test results should
be back by early next week. The original tests last week were
run at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Utah State University
in Logan. (Deseret News, 08/15/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,510046997,00.html
GARDEN TIPS AND
EVENTS
The Utah State University Extension Service Master Gardeners
in Tooele County will host a garden tour Saturday from 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m. The Durtschi garden is just one of the gardens featured
on the tour. Get ideas for your landscape or enjoy some outstanding
gardens in Stockton, Stansbury Park, Grantsville and Tooele.
The tour starts at Speirs Farm, 394 W. 200 South, Tooele. Visit
that garden and get a list of addresses for the other gardens
to visit. Cost is $5. Proceeds go to benefit tree programs throughout
the county. (Deseret News, 08/15/03) click on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,510046975,00.html
UTAH FARMERS
TARGETED IN SCAM: CAUTION ADVISED WHEN DEALING WITH TELEMARKETERS
Utah's rural farmers and ranchers may be facing a targeted
attack by telemarketing scam artists, according to Utah State
University agriculture agents. Mike Pace, a USU Extension agent
in Millard County, said up to a dozen farmers and ranchers there
have fallen victim to a telemarketing scam this season. About
that same number of victims have reported to agriculture agents
in Iron County and into Vernal, Pace said. According to information
collected by the agents, Pace said telemarketers have contacted
rural Utah farmers, offering herbicides and pesticides at reduced
rates. The product is either never delivered or proves to be
a watered-down, ineffective version of the chemical. But by
then, the farmer has paid the bill and the telemarketers are
long gone. The losses, Pace estimates, may be hundreds or thousands
of dollars per order, per farmer. (Deseret News, 08/15/03) click
on: http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,510047047,00.html
CLIMBING PRESENTATION
The USU Outdoor Recreation Center and Cache MicroCinema present
a lecture and slideshow by Jon Gibans on his 2003 Everest climb
at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at the TSC Auditorium. Short films
"The Sacred Art of Tibet" and "The Path of Cessation"
will also be shown. Admission is free. Call 797-3264 for more
information. (Herald Journal, 08/15/03)
REBROADCASTING
ROSALIE
The next in Utah Public Radio's series of local folk concert
broadcasts features Rosalie Sorrels, Saturday, Aug. 23, at 8
p.m. The hour-long program is a broadcast of Sorrels' May 10
concert at Utah State University’s Eccles Conference Center.
It was part of the 2002-03 Bridger Folk Music Society concert
series. (Herald Journal, Cache Magazine, 08/15/03)
EASTERN MICROCINEMA
Cache MicroCinema, in conjunction with the USU Outdoor Rec
Center, presents: "Chomulungma: Climbing Everest from Tibet,"
a lecture and slide show by Jon Gibans at 7 p.m., Friday. Aug.
22, at the Taggart Student Center Auditorium, USU Campus. (Herald
Journal, Cache Magazine, 08/15/03)
NEWS BEAT: TEST
SAMPLES SAY WEST NILE IN UTAH?
Blood samples from two sentinel chickens in Carbon County showed
evidence of West Nile virus and further samples have been sent
off for definitive lab tests, state health officials said. Fresh
blood samples from the chickens were drawn this week and sent
to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames, Iowa,
said Charles Brokopp, director of epidemiology and laboratory
services for the state Department of Health. Test results should
be back by early next week. The original tests last week were
run at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Utah State University
in Logan. Brokopp said the preliminary results do not mean the
virus is necessarily in Utah yet. (Standard Examiner, 08/14/03)
click on: http://www.standard.net/standard/news/print_story.html?sid=00030813231132103551
utah
state today/archives/August
2003/archives
prior to Sept 2002/
Brought
to you by Utah State University Public Relations and Marketing
|