July 20, 2003 News Releases
Released 8/19/03 & 8/18/03
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 08-19-03
UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT TO HELP STUDENTS MOVE IN
LOGAN — President Kermit L. Hall, university administrators,
faculty and staff will once again roll up their sleeves and
help students do the heavy lifting when freshmen begin showing
up this weekend to move into campus housing at Utah State University.
The new academic year begins Aug. 25 and the transition to campus
living can be overwhelming. Not to worry — this year the
welcome includes the helpful hands and smiling faces of university
administrators and staff.
For three days, Aug. 15, 23 and 24, members of the university’s
Executive Committee, college deans and staff will join residence
life staff to welcome students in a variety of ways. Vice President
for Student Services Juan N. Franco and President Kermit L.
Hall have encouraged all members of the Executive Committee,
along with the staff, to participate.
“This provides an occasion for us to offer words of encouragement
to our new students and thanks to our very important Utah State
parents,” said Kermit L. Hall during last year’s
move in.
Whether helping students move into dorm rooms, offering advice
and directions or staffing refreshment tables, campus executives,
administrators and staff will be on hand to help students adjust
to campus life. President Hall and other members of the Executive
Committee participated last year, taking many students and parents
by surprise.
Housing options at Utah State are diverse, with room options
that vary from private to group settings. Amenities include
high-speed Internet access, study lounges and laundry facilities
in all residence halls. New this year are Freshmen Interest
Groups or FIGS, where like-minded freshmEn live on theme floors
in the residence halls. Among the themes for 2003–04 are
appreciating the arts, elementary education, healthy living,
outdoor adventures and science and society.
August 19, 2003
Contact: John DeVilbiss (435) 797-1358
Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354
WILL WEST NILE
VIRUS AFFECT WILD GAME BIRDS?
LOGAN — Although most West Nile virus-positive birds
in other states have been American crows, infections also have
been confirmed in many other species, including game birds.
“It is important to remember that there is no evidence
that birds can transmit WNV to humans, but gloves should be
worn when handling any dead bird or mammal,” Bagley says.
Because of their outdoor exposure, game hunters may be at risk
if they become bitten by mosquitoes in areas with West Nile
virus activity, he says. The extent to which West Nile virus
may be present in wild game is unknown. Surveillance studies
are currently underway in collaboration with the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center (in Madison, Wis.)
and with state and local wildlife biologists and naturalists
to answer this question.
Hunters should follow the usual precautions when handling wild
animals, he adds. Hunters should wear gloves when handling and
cleaning animals to prevent blood exposure to bare hands, and
meat should be cooked thoroughly. As an additional precaution,
hunters should not collect or consume any animals, including
birds, who appear to be exhibiting unusual behaviors, or appear
to be ill or in poor condition prior to being shot.
Hunters should check with their local area department of wildlife
and natural resources, state epidemiologist at the state health
department or the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife
Health Center, Madison, Wis., 608-270-2400, for information
on local area risk. In Utah, Bagley says hunters may also contact
their local health departments or the Office of Epidemiology.
August 19, 2003
Writer: Dennis Hinkamp, 435-797-1392 (dennish@ext.usu.edu)
Contact: Clell Bagley, 435-797-1882
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 08-18-03
WEST NILE VIRUS
EFFECT ON CATS AND DOGS
LOGAN — West Nile virus is not likely to be much of
a problem for dogs and cats or most traditional household pets,
according to Clell Bagley, Utah State University Extension veterinarian.
It also won't be a problem for pet birds, but zoo and aviary
birds could be at some risk, he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, dogs and cats
can be carriers of West Nile virus (WNV) but they cannot transmit
it to human or other animals. West Nile virus is transmitted
by infectious mosquitoes and there is no documented evidence
of person-to-person, animal-to-animal or animal-to-person transmission
of West Nile virus. Veterinarians and owners should take normal
infection control precautions when caring for an animal suspected
to have this or any viral infection.
Dogs and cats become infected by WNV the same way humans do,
by the bite of infectious mosquitoes, Bagley said. The virus
is located in the mosquito's salivary glands and is injected
into the animal during blood feeding. The virus then multiplies
and may cause illness. Mosquitoes become infected when they
feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their
blood for a few days. It is possible that dogs and cats could
become infected by eating dead infected animals such as birds,
but this is yet unproven.
"There is no reason to destroy an animal just because it
has been infected with West Nile virus," Bagley said. "Full
recovery from the infection is likely. Treatment would be supportive
and consistent with standard veterinary practices for animals
infected with a viral agent."
For more information on West Nile Virus go to http://extension.usu.edu/files/agpubs/WestNileWeb.pdf
August 18, 2003
Contact: Clell Bagley, 435-797-1882 [clellb@ext.usu.edu]
Writer: Dennis Hinkamp, 435-797-1392 [dennish@ext.usu.edu]
FAIRING WELL
AT THE FAIR
LOGAN — One problem many gardeners face is finding an
appropriate way to display trophy-worthy produce. It is a little
awkward to invite the neighbors over to show off a blue ribbon
cucumber hanging on the vine, or a prize crop of green beans,
said Jerry Goodspeed, Utah State University Extension horticulturist.
"There is one way to display garden successes without appearing
too boastful," he said. "Enter them in the local fair.
Along with the satisfaction of allowing others to view your
accomplishments, it can be somewhat profitable to be awarded
a prize for the best produce on display."
For gardeners who feel their veggies are not worthy of a blue
ribbon, or for those who entered in the past and didn't win,
here are a few suggestions that could help even an average-looking
carrot win a coveted prize, said Goodspeed.
"Having judged my share of fairs, I know what those picky
judges are looking for," he said. "The most important
thing to remember is that most judges enjoy eating as much as
the next person. With this in mind, display produce that looks
delectable. Imagine you are selecting produce to sell. Or better
yet, ask yourself if you would pay good money to buy your fruits
and vegetables."
Make sure the produce is clean. Would people want to buy a filthy,
soil-covered cantaloupe, or a partially green potato that was
damaged at harvest? Select produce that is insect and disease-free,
he said.
"Make sure fruit is ripe and at its edible prime,"
he continued. "It is not usually the biggest specimen but
the best that gets the top prize. A carrot that could double
as softball bat or a cucumber the size of a small Caribbean
island are not blue ribbon material."
When displaying more than one of a particular vegetable, select
those that are blemish-free and look as similar as possible.
They should be the same size, shape and color, he noted. For
example, when displaying green beans, it is better to display
10 good green beans that look alike than five perfect beans
and five less than desirable beans.
Remember also to make the produce look as good as possible on
the plate. People who take the time to neatly organize the produce
on a plate normally score better than those who just toss it
on the nearest plastic lid, he said.
"The last tip I want to share is probably the most important,"
Goodspeed said. "Make sure to read the fair's Premium Book
for help in selecting the proper number of vegetables and fruits
to display. The time to know this information is before going
to the garden to harvest, not after arriving at the fair and
discovering you needed 10 green beans, but you only have nine.
In addition, if it says to take the tops off the tomatoes, take
them off. If it says to keep the scales on an onion, leave them
on to display."
Call the chairman with questions. The phone number for the crops
supervisors is normally listed in the Premium Book, which can
be picked up at the fairgrounds or the local Extension office,
he said.
"At least drop by the crops tent or building to admire
what others have grown if displaying your own produce is too
intimidating," Goodspeed concluded. "Your produce
may look every bit as good as the blue ribbon winners at the
fair.
Perhaps the world’s largest zucchini will also be there
on display, but I hope not."
August 18, 2003
Writer: Julene Reese, 435-797-1363
Contact: Jerry Goodspeed, 801-392-8908
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